Correlation of Population Factors, Compliance with Masking and Social Distance, Vaccination, and COVID-19 Infection in Central Appalachia

Objectives Compliance with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) guidelines, including the use of masks and social distancing and vaccinations, has been poor. Our study examined what factors may identify those who will be more or less compliant, especially in regard to those with identified higher risk. Methods A telephone survey of 200 adult patients from two practices, one general internal medicine and the other rheumatology, was performed in May and June 2021. Questions included age, sex, perception of immunocompetence, smoking history, mask and social distancing compliance, COVID-19 symptoms and/or test-proven infection, and immunization status for COVID-19. Those agreeing to participate also underwent chart review for body mass index, physician-assessed immunocompetence, and diabetes mellitus. Results No clinical factors approached statistical significance for the prediction of compliance or noncompliance. Compliance with mask and social distancing highly correlated with vaccination and avoidance of infection, however. Conclusions Attempts to improve compliance cannot be focused on any of the particular groups examined in this study.