N95 masks: skin changes in health professionals in northern Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To identify the factors associated with N95 mask use related to skin changes among health professionals in northern Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a multicenter study carried out in northern Brazil, from October to December 2020, with 1,684 health professionals who worked in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited via social media and the information collected electronically was stored on the Survey Monkey platform. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, association tests (chi-square), with statistical significance level at p < 0.05. Factors associated with N95 mask ruse elated to skin changes were determined by Binary Logistic Regression, significance level of 5% (α = 0.05). Results: Male health professionals were 1.708 more likely to have skin changes. Other factors such as the N95 mask change period, having worked in a COVID-19 field hospital, intensive care, urgency and emergency and having received some training or course on COVID-19 were considered protective against the development of skin changes, while the main reasons for changing the N95 mask were humidity, loss of seal, contamination, damage (tear). Conclusion: We concluded that male health professionals were more likely to have skin changes related to N95 mask use. The protective factors were highlighted and it is relevant to carry out intervention studies in order to explore measures to prevent these types of injuries.