Omid Garkaz - Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Atefeh Zirouhi - Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Faezeh Mohammadi - Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Ghazaleh Yavari - Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.
Zohreh Damghani - Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran.

Background: One of the most important issues since SARS-CoV-۲ was identified was the growing information on how the virus was transmitted and how to protect against it. However, many key questions have not yet been fully answered. This study aimed to investigate the correct wearing of a mask in Shahroud city.Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional one conducted on ۸۰۰ people in Shahroud city in a two-month interval (Aug. ۲۲, ۲۰۲۰, to October ۳۰, ۲۰۲۰). Data were collected using a checklist including demographic information. After being collected, the data were entered into SPSS۱۸ and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results: The results indicated that out of ۸۰۰ people taking part, ۴۱۵ people (۵۱.۹%) were male and ۳۸۵ ones (۴۸.۱%) were female. The mean participants’ age was ۶۱.۷۸ ۱۶±۱۶.۰۹; most participants in the study were born in the year ۱۹۷۲-۱۹۹۵ with ۳۸۵ ones (۴۸%). Also, concerning masks, it was found that the use of masks and the correct use of them accounted for ۵۲۸ cases (۶۶%) and ۳۷۷ cases (۴۷.۱%), respectively. The most used mask was a surgical mask with ۳۴۳ cases (۴۲.۹). Concerning the non-use of a mask, ۱۳۲ people (۱۶.۵%) cited choking as the most important reason for not wearing a mask. Also, ۶۸۱ people (۸۵.۱%) and ۵۵۷ ones (۶۹.۶%) had chosen not to participate at weddings and parties, respectively.Conclusions: The results suggested that a greater percentage of participants in the study knew how to correctly wear a mask while not having a history of participating in ceremonies and parties, which is a very good issue.Keywords: Mask, Correct wearing, ShahroudBackground: One of the most important issues since SARS-CoV-۲ was identified was the growing information on how the virus was transmitted and how to protect against it. However, many key questions have not yet been fully answered. This study aimed to investigate the correct wearing of a mask in Shahroud city. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional one conducted on ۸۰۰ people in Shahroud city in a two-month interval (Aug. ۲۲, ۲۰۲۰, to October ۳۰, ۲۰۲۰). Data were collected using a checklist including demographic information. After being collected, the data were entered into SPSS۱۸ and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: The results indicated that out of ۸۰۰ people taking part, ۴۱۵ people (۵۱.۹%) were male and ۳۸۵ ones (۴۸.۱%) were female. The mean participants’ age was ۶۱.۷۸ ۱۶±۱۶.۰۹; most participants in the study were born in the year ۱۹۷۲-۱۹۹۵ with ۳۸۵ ones (۴۸%). Also, concerning masks, it was found that the use of masks and the correct use of them accounted for ۵۲۸ cases (۶۶%) and ۳۷۷ cases (۴۷.۱%), respectively. The most used mask was a surgical mask with ۳۴۳ cases (۴۲.۹). Concerning the non-use of a mask, ۱۳۲ people (۱۶.۵%) cited choking as the most important reason for not wearing a mask. Also, ۶۸۱ people (۸۵.۱%) and ۵۵۷ ones (۶۹.۶%) had chosen not to participate at weddings and parties, respectively. Conclusions: The results suggested that a greater percentage of participants in the study knew how to correctly wear a mask while not having a history of participating in ceremonies and parties, which is a very good issue. Keywords: Mask, Correct wearing, Shahroud

Mask, Correct wearing, Shahroud