Perceptions of The Locals In Batchelor East, Natividad, Pangasinan

Regarding Wearing of Face Shields

Rohann Nicholas C. Barroga1, Tyrens John M. Barroga2
1
Grade 10 STE - A, Tayug National High School
2
Grade 10 STE - A, Tayug National High School

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably infected the global population. Personal
protective equipment (PPE) is required in hospitals due to the current circumstances of the
coronavirus illness pandemic of 2019. Personal protection equipment such as N95 masks and
face shields are being utilized to prevent infection spread caused by aerosols. This study
utilized only one method of research, which is qualitative. Using the phenomenology research
design. According to Linda A. Bliss (2016) phenomenology research investigates lived
events to learn more about how people interpret them. The researcher employed thematic
analysis as a method for qualitatively interpreting the data and information gathered through
a survey questionnaire. The data and information was conducted from the locals in Batchelor
East, Natividad, Pangasinan through a survey questionnaire. Data are presented through
graphs and the interpretation of findings, aiming to identify their perceptions of using face
shields during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it impacted their daily lives. Results show
that most of the locals in Batchelor East are agree regarding using of face shields. From the
data gathered, most of the locals in Batchelor East used face shields when they go out.

Keywords: Face shields, COVID-19, Locals, Perceptions, Phenomenology

1. Introduction
According to Fujio Akagi (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has considerably infected
the global population, and the threat continues. Moreover, the number of infected people
exceeds the number of medical staff and medical equipment in several countries; therefore,
many infected persons and patients with cases unrelated to COVID-19 cannot receive adequate
medical treatment. To maintain the quality of medical treatment in such situations, infection
prevention measures for medical staff are extremely important. Face shields, which cover the
face with a clear plastic screen, and medical surgical masks are actively being used by medical
staff to prevent inhalation of virus-laden droplets that spread by breathing, coughing, and
sneezing of an infected person. Recently, the number of people using face shields as a substitute
for face masks has been increasing in schools, universities, restaurants, and service businesses.

According to S. Sebastian (2020) The current circumstances of the coronavirus disease

2019 pandemic necessitate the use of personal protective equipment in hospitals. N95 masks
and face shields are being used as personal protective equipment to protect from aerosol-related
spread of infection. Personal protective equipment, however, hampers communication. This
study aimed to assess the effect of using an N95 mask and face shield on speech perception
among healthcare workers with normal hearing.
 According to Mubarak Muhamed Khan (2020) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-
19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
(SARS-CoV-2). There are 9,073,969 patients who have been afflicted so far, with 471,199
deaths and 3,747,128 active cases infected. The rapid dissemination and transmission of
SARS CoV 2 is a major issue due to the droplets and aerosols of the virus. We've been
employing indigenous face shields for our health care professionals for the past three months
to minimize the spread of rapidd transmission, which costs only 0.13 USD each shield.

This study aims to determine the perception of the locals in Batchelor East regarding
wearing of face shields, and will be determined using survey questions. This study will benefit
both students and teachers by providing information about the local’s perception regarding
wearing of face shields
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Research Design
This study will utilize only one method of research, which is qualitative. Using
phenomenology research design.
According to Linda A. Bliss (2016) phenomenological research is a qualitative
research approach that seeks to understand and describe the universal essence of a
phenomenon. The approach investigates the everyday experiences of human beings while
suspending the researchers’ preconceived assumptions about the phenomenon. In other
words, phenomenological research studies lived experiences to gain deeper insights into how
people understand those experiences.

The survey was conducted thru face to face. The questionnaire was conducted with a
total of 40 potential participants. The required number of respondents was divided into two
portions based on their age, totalling fifteen (15) respondents from 15-40 years old and
fifteen (15) respondents from 41-70 years old. The survey employed a voluntary response
sample, which means that the researchers ask individuals of a population to join the sample
and they choose whether or not to participate.
2.2 Instrument
Survey questionnaire was used to collect responses from 30 respondents. The
questionnaire has a total of 12 questions. The first part is an open-ended question that has five
(5) questions, focusing on their experienced using face shields by the locals, and how face
shields impacted their daily lives during pandemic. Open-ended survey questions allow
participants to answer in open text format, allowing them to express their full knowledge,
feeling, and comprehension. The second part consists of a series of seven (7) YES or NO
questions. It is concerned with their perceptions using face shields. A yes-or-no question is
binary, meaning there are only two options: yes or no.
3. Results and Discussion
This section presents the data gathered by the researchers. These are presented
through graphs and the interpretation of findings. This study aims to determine the perception
of the locals in Batchelor East regarding wearing of face shields and how it impacted their
daily lives.

What can you say about wearing face shields?

16

14

12

10

Protects against COVID Doesn't protects against COVID Irritating

Annoying It's hard Uncomfortable

Fig. 1: What can you say about wearing face shields?

Figure 1 shows that fourteen (14) people out of thirty (30) indicated that they are
protected while using face shields. Five (5) people are uncomfortable, four (4) people are not
protected while using face shields and the other four (4) feels hard, and one (1) feels annoyed.
According to Lindsley et al (2014), when tested against an influenza-infused aerosol
from a distance of 18 inches away, a face shield reduced exposure by 96% during the period
immediately after a cough. The face shield also reduced the surface contamination of a
respirator by 97%.
 How long do you wear face shields everyday?
16

14

12

10

When I go out 2 hours 30 minutes - 1 hour None

Fig. 2: How long do you wear face shields everyday?

As shown in Figure 2, fifteen (15) people uses face shields when they go out, five (5)
people wear face shields for 2 hours, three (3) wear face shields for 30 minutes – 1 hours,
and seven (7) people don’t wear face shield.

A study by Bhaskar and Arun (2020) among community health workers in India,
suggests that, after the introduction of face shields to 50 of the health workers who counseled
118,428 persons in May 2020, none of the healthcare workers were infected with COVID-19.
 How did wearing a face shield affect your daily life?
14

12

10

Uncomfortable It doesn't affect our daily lives It protects against covid

Fig. 3: How did wearing a face shield affect your daily life?
According to the responses shown in Figure 3, thirteen (13) people answered it
protects against COVID, seven (7) people answered it doesn’t affect our daily lives, and ten
(10) people feels uncomfortable.
According to Ryan Wain and Daniel Sleat (2020), face shields provide a high level of
protection for the wearer. Given they cover the whole face – the mouth, nose and eyes – a
high percentage of viral particles are prevented from reaching the wearer. Face shields are
arguably best at protecting from coughs and sneezes.

How do you feel about wearing face shields?

16

14

12

10

Comfortable Provide extra protection Uncomfortable

Fig. 4: How do you feel about wearing face shields?

 According to the responses shown in figure 4, fourteen (14) people answered provide
extra protection, ten (10) people are uncomfortable, and 6 people are comfortable.

What made you think that wearing a face shield could pro-
tect you from COVID? 
25

20

15

10

It covers our whole face It doesn't work It blocks the virus

Fig. 5: What made you think that wearing a face shield could
protect you from COVID?
According to Figure 5, twenty-three (23) people answered it covers our whole face,
three (3) people answered it doesn’t work, and five (5) people answered it blocks the virus.
 Does wearing face shield bother you?
18

16

14

12

10

Yes No

Fig. 6: Question 1

Based on figure 6, sixteen (16) people out of 30 responded Yes, while thirteen (13)
students responded No.

Does wearing face shield make you feel more safe when
you going out?
25

20

15

10

Yes No

Fig. 7: Question 2

From figure 7, it shows that twenty (20) people answered Yes, while ten (10) people
answered No.
 Do you think wearing face shield lessens the danger of
Covid-19?
25

20

15

10

Yes No

Fig. 8: Question 3
Based on figure 8, twenty-one (21) people responded Yes, while nine (9) people
responded No.

Did wearing face shield help whenever you go out?

18

16

14

12

10

Yes No

Fig. 9: Question 4

As shown in figure 9, seventeen (17) answered Yes, while thirteen (13) people
answered No.
 Do you use face shield everyday?
16

14

12

10

Yes No

Fig. 10: Question 5

Figure 10 shows that fifteen (15) people used face shield everyday, while fifteen (15)
people are not using face shield.

Did wearing face shield help you in this pandemic?

20
18
16
14

12
10
8

6
4
2

Yes No

Fig. 11: Question 6

Figure 11 shows nineteen (19) people answered Yes, while eleven (11) people
answered No.
 Do you think wearing face shield is necessary in this
pandemic?
18

16

14

12

10

Yes No

Fig. 12: Question 7

Figure 12 shows seventeen (17) people answered Yes, while thirteen (13) people
answered No.

4. Conclusion

Based on the Findings that were obtained, the following conclusions have been
drawn:
1. Most of the locals in Batchelor East are agree regarding using of face shields.
 2. Most of the locals in Batchelor East are using face shields when they go out.
3. According to figure 12, face shields are necessary in Batchelor East.

Recommendations

For the improvement of the study, the researchers would like to recommend the
following:

1. The researchers recommend add more questions regarding face shields.

2. The researchers recommend increasing the number of participants in the survey for a
better outcome.

Acknowledgement

The researchers would like to express their gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the
people who provided the researchers with the information, courage, inspiration, and, most
importantly, patience to make this study a success. The researchers are grateful to the
respondents from Tayug National High School, particularly the junior high school students,
for their help and support. To Mr. Mark Angelbert B. Dulay, who is the insightful research
adviser, who gave guidance and encouragement throughout the whole process of this
research. Above all, the Almighty God for His never undying love and blessings to the
researchers and researchers’ family.

References

1) Bliss, L (2016). Phenomenological Research: Inquiry to Understand the Meaning of

People’s Experiences. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and
Technology. Qutoshi, S. (2108). Phenomenology: A Philosophy and Method of
Inquiry. Journal of Education and Educational Development. Retrieved from:
https://sageprofessor.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/phenomenological-research-
inquiry-to-understand-the-meanings-of-peoples-experiences.pdf
2) Ryan Wain and Daniel Sleat. (2020). The Role of Face Shields in Responding to
Covid-19. Retrieved from: https://institute.global/policy/role-face-shields-responding-
covid-19
3) William G Lindsley, John D Noti, Francoise M Blachere, Jonathan V Szalajda,
Donald H Beezhold (2014). Efficacy of face shields against cough aerosol droplets
from a cough simulator. Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24467190/
4) S V Bandaru, A M Augustine, A Lepcha, S Sebastian, M Gowri, A Philip and M D
Mammen (2020). The effects of N95 mask and face shield on speech perception
among healthcare workers in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic scenario.
Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7542317/
5) Fujio Akagi, Isao Haraga, Shin-ichi Inage, and Kozaburo Akiyoshi. (2021). Effect of
face shield design on the prevention of sneeze droplet inhalation. Retrieved from:
https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1063/5.0044367
6) Fujio Akagi, Isao Haraga, Shin-ichi Inage, and Kozaburo Akiyoshi. (2020). Effect of
sneezing on the flow around a face shield Retrieved from:
https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0031150
7) Mubarak Muhamed Khan & Sapna Ramkrishna Parab. (2020). Simple Face Shield for
Public as a Crucial Factor to Slow Aerosol Transmission During Unlock Phase of
COVID Pandemic. Retrieved from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7450894/