Abstract
This study aims to investigate whether wearing face masks (filtering facepieces, FFP class 2) with personal protective equipment (FPP2/PPE), while working a 12-h shift in a COVID-19 referral center, affects the blood saturation, heart rate (HR), and well-being of health care providers (HCPs). The study included a group of 37 HCPs. To perform continuous recordings of the SpO2 and heart rate (HR) in real time, we used a Nellcor PM10N (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) portable monitoring system. SpO2, HR, and HCP well-being scales were measured during two 3-h shifts, while HCPs worked during a 12-h period. Additionally, each subject completed a questionnaire concerning their well-being. The difference in the SpO2 level between the 1st and 2nd working shifts while wearing an FFP2/PPE was small, with a median decrease in SpO2 of −1%. The scales of the well-being indicators increased within the shift. They were mainly fatigue and thirst with median scores of 2 out of 6 (range 0–4). We assume that during a 12-h period, a work scheme that consists of a 3-h shift in FFP2/PPE and a 3-h rest period (working without FPP2/PPE) is a reliable and safe solution for HCPs working in specialized COVID-19 referral hospitals.
Highlights
Introduction published maps and institutional affilHealth care providers (HCPs) who take care of COVID-19 patients are subject to direct exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus
health care providers (HCPs) face an influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients and require heightened personal protective equipment (PPE)
This study aims to investigate whether wearing FFP class 2 (FFP2) with PPE (FPP2/PPE), while working 12-h shifts in a specialized COVID-19 referral center, affects the blood saturation, heart rate (HR), and well-being of HCPs
Summary
Introduction published maps and institutional affilHealth care providers (HCPs) who take care of COVID-19 patients are subject to direct exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specialized COVID-19 referral centers are the main and usually last line of defense against COVID-19. In such hospitals, HCPs face an influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients and require heightened personal protective equipment (PPE). HCPs in specialized COVID-19 referral hospitals must wear surgical face masks (filtering facepieces, FFPs), eye protection (safety spectacles or goggles), and special gowns that constitute PPE. Several studies have confirmed the effectiveness of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of protecting both HCPs and their patients [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Wearing face masks reduces the risk of COVID-19 infections by 70 to 79% in different social, professional, and private settings [8,9,10,11,12]
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