Professor Trisha Greenhalgh OBE (1980, Medicine), Professor of Primary Care Health Sciences at Oxford University, has been researching the importance of comprehensive mask and PPE provision.

Her research shows homemade masks offer good levels of protection for workers and should be made compulsory on public transport, offices and shops. She wrote an article with Jeremy Howard about mask provision, which is suitable for all audiences.

Professor Greenhalgh was quoted in the Guardian, saying “We should be covering our faces with homespun materials like cotton. Medical-grade masks are scratchy and uncomfortable. Your old T-shirt is soft and nice, and with a couple of layers of kitchen paper inside a double layer, it will reduce the droplets coming out of your mouth and nose by about 95%.” She has also signed the Masks4All letter, which asks government officials to require masks to be worn in public spaces.

Her research on PPE provision includes examining the efficacy of standard face masks versus respirator masks as well as the use of protective gowns versus aprons. She has also helped with reviews looking at ways of diagnosing coronavirus: the Roth score, using smartphone apps as oximeters, and analysing breathlessness virtually.

Professor Greenhalgh has spoken about PPE and the use of video consultations during the pandemic on the British Journal of General Practice website. She is also speaking for the opening keynote lecture of the Health Services Research conference on the topic “Lessons for international HSR from the COVID-19 pandemic”.

As co-Director of the Interdisciplinary Research In Health Sciences (IRIHS) unit, Professor Greenhalgh leads a programme of research at the interface between social sciences and medicine, with a strong emphasis on the organisation and delivery of health services.

You can get updates about Professor Greenhalgh’s research on Twitter.

Are you involved?
If you are involved in research or frontline work relating to COVID-19 that you would like to bring to the attention of the Univ community worldwide, please email communications@univ.ox.ac.uk.

Published: 15 May 2020

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