Wearing N95 masks decreases the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers : a self-controlled before-after study
©2023 Luo et al..
Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the N95 mask is an essential piece of protective equipment for healthcare workers. However, the N95 mask may inhibit air exchange and odor penetration. Our study aimed to determine whether the use of N95 masks affects the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers.
Methods: In our study, all the participants were asked to complete three olfactory tests. Each test involved 12 different odors. The participants completed the test while wearing an N95 mask, a surgical mask, and no mask. The score for each olfactory test was documented.
Results: The olfactory test score was significantly lower when the participants wore N95 masks than when they did not wear a mask (7 vs. 10, p < 0.01). The score was also lower when the participants wore N95 masks than surgical masks (7 vs. 8, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Wearing N95 masks decreases the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers. Therefore, we suggest that healthcare workers seek other clues when diagnosing disease with a characteristic odor.
| Medienart: |
E-Artikel |
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| Erscheinungsjahr: |
2023 |
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| Erschienen: |
2023 |
| Enthalten in: |
Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:11 |
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| Enthalten in: |
PeerJ - 11(2023) vom: 30., Seite e14979 |
| Sprache: |
Englisch |
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| Beteiligte Personen: |
Luo, Guanguan [VerfasserIn] |
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| Links: |
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| Themen: |
Healthcare worker |
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| Anmerkungen: |
Date Completed 21.03.2023 Date Revised 28.04.2023 published: Electronic-eCollection Citation Status MEDLINE |
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| doi: |
10.7717/peerj.14979 |
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| funding: |
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| Förderinstitution / Projekttitel: |
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| PPN (Katalog-ID): |
NLM354413066 |
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| 245 | 1 | 0 | |a Wearing N95 masks decreases the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers |b a self-controlled before-after study |
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| 500 | |a Date Revised 28.04.2023 | ||
| 500 | |a published: Electronic-eCollection | ||
| 500 | |a Citation Status MEDLINE | ||
| 520 | |a ©2023 Luo et al. | ||
| 520 | |a Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the N95 mask is an essential piece of protective equipment for healthcare workers. However, the N95 mask may inhibit air exchange and odor penetration. Our study aimed to determine whether the use of N95 masks affects the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers | ||
| 520 | |a Methods: In our study, all the participants were asked to complete three olfactory tests. Each test involved 12 different odors. The participants completed the test while wearing an N95 mask, a surgical mask, and no mask. The score for each olfactory test was documented | ||
| 520 | |a Results: The olfactory test score was significantly lower when the participants wore N95 masks than when they did not wear a mask (7 vs. 10, p < 0.01). The score was also lower when the participants wore N95 masks than surgical masks (7 vs. 8, p < 0.01) | ||
| 520 | |a Conclusion: Wearing N95 masks decreases the odor discrimination ability of healthcare workers. Therefore, we suggest that healthcare workers seek other clues when diagnosing disease with a characteristic odor | ||
| 650 | 4 | |a Journal Article | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Odor discrimination | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Olfactory test | |
| 650 | 4 | |a Healthcare worker | |
| 650 | 4 | |a N95 mask | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Zou, Xingnan |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Zhou, Xianlong |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Gan, Jiaohong |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Jiang, Cheng |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Zhao, Zhigang |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
| 700 | 1 | |a Zhao, Yan |e verfasserin |4 aut | |
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