COVID-19 Pandemi Sürecinde Sağlık Çalışanlarında Maske Kullanımının Etkilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate different types of masks and difficulties that are observed while wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was performed following local ethical committee approval. A total of 112 volunteers, 78 females and 34 males, working at Izmir University of Economics Medical Park Hospital, consisting of secretaries, nurses and doctors, were included in the study. Volunteers were divided into two groups as those using surgical medical masks and FFP2 masks. 81 volunteers using surgical medical masks were included in the first group and 31 volunteers using FFP2 mask were included in the second group. Development of dyspnea, vision disturbance, ear pain, headache, discomfort on face and anxiety complaints during the 60th and 180th minutes during mask usage was questioned. In addition, changes of oxygen saturation and changes of heart beat rate were measured with the pulse oximeter at 60th and 180th minutes and compared with the baseline values. Variation of the complaints were evaluated regarding allergy, smoking and use of glasses. For statistical analysis, the statistical package SPSS version 17 was used. The distribution of the data was analyzed with Kruskal Wallis and Shapiro Wilk tests. The data was found to be normally distributed. The difference between the groups in terms of oxygen saturation and heart beat rates in 60th and 180th minutes was compared with baseline values using Student-t test. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Chi-square test was used to determine the difference in dyspnea, anxiety, discomfort on face, headache, pain in the ear, and visual disturbance. In both groups; when compared to baseline values, difference in oxygen saturations in 60th minutes (p <0.001) and 180th minutes (p <0.001) were found to be statistically significant. Statistically significant difference was also found in heart beat rate, in comparison between baseline values and values in 60th minutes (p <0.001) and 180th minutes (p <0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the changes of oxygen saturation values in 180th minutes and the mask type, the presence of allergy, the use of glasses, smoking, age and gender. As a result, it has been observed that the FFP2 type masks are more difficult to tolerate in use. Although, both types of masks showed a decrease in oxygen saturation and heart beat rate after 180 minutes of use, these values remained within physiological limits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as an important barrier for protection of healthcare professionals and the people in the community, on wearing masks, adverse effect has not been determined. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]