To Mask or not to two - Mask Megathread cont.

The amount of time and ‘effort’ these types invest in harebrained theories always puzzles me.

Maybe it’s because they get their ‘kicks’ from contraryerism and obfuscation and trying too hard to be different.

Very strange individuals I always find.

Re-analysis on the statistical sampling biases of a mask promotion trial in Bangladesh: a statistical replication

https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-022-06704-

Conclusion of the re analysis here.

it would not be reasonable to conclude from this trial that there is a direct causal link between mask wearing and the number of residents in villages and households, any causal claims based on effects of similar size in this trial should be considered with caution. In particular, both COVID symptoms and COVID symptomatic seroprevalence exhibited similar magnitudes (and much weaker significance) than population differences which arose from bias and chance alone.

It is tempting to argue that the recruited and unrecruited individuals would have to be substantially different in how they report symptoms or test positive on serology in order for the recruitment bias to entirely account for the reported effect on endpoints. While a large difference between these populations may be unlikely, the bias evident in the trial outcomes demands caution regardless of assumptions one might be willing to make about unobserved individuals in the control arm.

In particular, it is critical to consider that all of the outcomes in the study are based on self-reporting of symptoms. Even for the serology endpoint, which may appear unbiased at first glance, subjects were only eligible for a blood draw if they had reported symptoms. Thus, all endpoints are subject to behavioral biases. Our analysis of the population size shows that behavioral biases can produce a highly significant 9% difference between the control and intervention arm in the absence of any causal link with the intervention. It is thus also premature to conclude a similarly sized causal effect on any other variable that is subject to behavior bias, including the trial endpoints.

The purpose of randomized control trials is to establish a causal link between interventions and outcomes. However, causal implications are diminished in the presence of unblinding, ascertainment bias, and bias-susceptible endpoints. Unfortunately, in the Bangladesh mask trial we evidence of all of the above.

The study in question raises intriguing questions about the role of public health interventions in changing behavioral patterns to decrease COVID case rates in low- and middle-income countries. The mask intervention was highly effective at modifying behaviors (distancing, mask-wearing, symptom reporting). Nonetheless, the data is consistent with mask wearing having modest or no direct effect on COVID-related outcomes in this experimental setting.

I think that is a good decision and I refer to your statement that it won't be a surprise which side..keeps it going around and around and around ... which 'side ' would that be ?

I note you were posting away on the thread last night when everyone else was long gone ...you must be wrecked .

Take care .

No reaction yet,I wonder why

Outside…..?

Why would I go outside,chip?

I am not wearing a mask these days but I will if the public health advice changes. I want to reduce the risk to me and others, so if advised, yes I want to comply and that may involve wearing a mask in certain situations.

Unfortunately the data expert pulled the 95+% figure out of his arse, he has no clue.

I would say most want to follow public health advice, maybe that is why you are not seeing huge numbers in the shops but you are seeing huge numbers in healthcare settings.

'Wanting' to wear a mask has nothing to do with anything, you either want to follow public health advice or you don't.

Very weak trolling there, try harder.

The current health advice is here: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/preventing-the-spread/when-to-wear-face-covering/

Wear a medical or respirator mask if you are:

• at higher risk from COVID-19 in indoor or outdoor crowded places
• visiting a healthcare setting
• visiting someone at higher risk of COVID-19
• stopping self-isolation after 7 days - wear this type of mask for 10 days in total

Well I wasn't comparing. All I know is masks are not worn here by the vast majority of people. They are just not a thing here.

Well I mean in shops and buses etc. People here just not bothered about them.

I didn't say they didn't care. I just said it's not a thing here.

What's the story with masks these days. Still a few around the place who still wear them out and about. I personally don't wear them.

I was at the dentist recently and had to wear one in the waiting room/reception area for the first time in ages as it's healthcare setting. You still have to wear them pharmacies too officially I believe but no one does.

Makes no sense that pharmacy staff still wear them for the most part but you can go to the hairdressers/barbers which is far more up close and personal and no one wears one. Covid never ceases to baffle me the magical virus that only seems to affect pharmacy staff and people in dental waiting rooms but not people getting their haircut or travelling on buses/trains/planes now.

Not sure if that's complimenting pharmacy staff and medical receptionists or insulting everyone else that didn't wear a mask pre covid and continues not to wear one now their no longer legally required.

Personally I don't like deli staff spreading germs all over my sandwich fillings. Perhaps these should be masked too but they're not.

The story about masks is wear one anywhere if you want to.

Nobody will bother you.

If you are asked to to wear one when availing of a service ie. hairdressing either wear one or go elsewhere.

In medical settings ie. GP you will be asked to wear one.

To answer your question, you just do as you are told.

Same applies in hospitals or clinics.

I suppose it's the receptionist's time you are wasting rather than the doctor's.

Probably no great harm in it if you insist but if you did manage to get another doctor you'd most likely meet the same problem.

I still wear my mask going into shops and the pharmacy still had a sign up use a facemask and hand sanitiser for hands at their entrance.

My immune system is not the best so will very much continue wearing one when the needs must.