Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects
Background: Social distancing and mask-wearing were recommended and mandatory for people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was disseminated through social media assessing mask type preference and COVID-19 history amongst tertiary sector services and the rates of the tr...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/3/325 |
| _version_ | 1797446402749497344 |
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| author | Dimitra S. Mouliou Ioannis Pantazopoulos Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis |
| author_facet | Dimitra S. Mouliou Ioannis Pantazopoulos Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis |
| author_sort | Dimitra S. Mouliou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Social distancing and mask-wearing were recommended and mandatory for people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was disseminated through social media assessing mask type preference and COVID-19 history amongst tertiary sector services and the rates of the triad of respiratory symptoms in each mask type, along with other respiratory-related parameters. Results: Amongst 4107 participants, 63.4% of the responders, mainly women, preferred medical/surgical masks; 20.5%, mainly men, preferred cotton cloth masks; and 13.8% preferred FFP/(K)N95 masks. COVID-19 history was less common in FFP/(K)N95 compared to medical/surgical (9.2% vs. 15.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) or cloth masks (9.2% vs. 14.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.006). Compared to the control group (rare mask-wearing, nonsmokers and without lung conditions), those wearing one medical mask were more likely to report frequent sputum production (4.4% vs. 1.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and frequent cough (4.4% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.013), and those wearing FFP/(K)N95 masks were more likely to report frequent cough (4.1% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.048). Compared to the control group, those preferring cotton cloth masks were more likely to report a frequent cough (7.3% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.0002), sputum production (6.3% vs. 1.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and dyspnea (8% vs. 1.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.00001). Conclusions: Safe mask-wearing should be in parallel with a more personalized and social interaction approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:40:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-124a507eb16d4e3b80e837b7552fa8b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:40:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-124a507eb16d4e3b80e837b7552fa8b62023-11-30T21:06:54ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262022-02-0112332510.3390/jpm12030325Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side EffectsDimitra S. Mouliou0Ioannis Pantazopoulos1Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, GreeceDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, GreeceDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, GreeceBackground: Social distancing and mask-wearing were recommended and mandatory for people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was disseminated through social media assessing mask type preference and COVID-19 history amongst tertiary sector services and the rates of the triad of respiratory symptoms in each mask type, along with other respiratory-related parameters. Results: Amongst 4107 participants, 63.4% of the responders, mainly women, preferred medical/surgical masks; 20.5%, mainly men, preferred cotton cloth masks; and 13.8% preferred FFP/(K)N95 masks. COVID-19 history was less common in FFP/(K)N95 compared to medical/surgical (9.2% vs. 15.6%, <i>p</i> < 0.001) or cloth masks (9.2% vs. 14.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.006). Compared to the control group (rare mask-wearing, nonsmokers and without lung conditions), those wearing one medical mask were more likely to report frequent sputum production (4.4% vs. 1.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and frequent cough (4.4% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.013), and those wearing FFP/(K)N95 masks were more likely to report frequent cough (4.1% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.048). Compared to the control group, those preferring cotton cloth masks were more likely to report a frequent cough (7.3% vs. 1.6%, <i>p</i> = 0.0002), sputum production (6.3% vs. 1.9%, <i>p</i> = 0.003) and dyspnea (8% vs. 1.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.00001). Conclusions: Safe mask-wearing should be in parallel with a more personalized and social interaction approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/3/325SARS-CoV-2transmissionmasksmedical masksFFP masksN95 masks |
| spellingShingle | Dimitra S. Mouliou Ioannis Pantazopoulos Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects Journal of Personalized Medicine SARS-CoV-2 transmission masks medical masks FFP masks N95 masks |
| title | Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects |
| title_full | Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects |
| title_fullStr | Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects |
| title_short | Medical/Surgical, Cloth and FFP/(K)N95 Masks: Unmasking Preference, SARS-CoV-2 Transmissibility and Respiratory Side Effects |
| title_sort | medical surgical cloth and ffp k n95 masks unmasking preference sars cov 2 transmissibility and respiratory side effects |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 transmission masks medical masks FFP masks N95 masks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/3/325 |
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