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Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem 2023To analyze the evidence of content validity of telephone messages regarding preventive measures against COVID-19. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the evidence of content validity of telephone messages regarding preventive measures against COVID-19.
METHOD
Methodological study, in which messages containing text and image were developed through a narrative literature review and whose content was evaluated by eight judges in terms of clarity, practical relevance, theoretical relevance and vocabulary. The content validity index (CVI) was calculated, and messages that reached levels above 90% were considered to have adequate evidence of validity.
RESULTS
Eighteen text messages/images were developed containing information about COVID-19, hand hygiene, use and handling of masks and the importance of social distancing. After second round of evaluation, a content validity index above 90% was obtained in all evaluated indicators.
CONCLUSION
The telephone messages were developed and showedadequate evidence of content validity.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Hand Hygiene; Masks; Physical Distancing; Telephone
PubMed: 37672404
DOI: 10.1590/1983-1447.2023.20220328.en -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2023Face masks are an indispensable low-cost public healthcare necessity for containing viral transmission. After the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic, there... (Review)
Review
Face masks are an indispensable low-cost public healthcare necessity for containing viral transmission. After the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) became a pandemic, there was an unprecedented demand for, and subsequent increase in face mask production and use, leading to global ecological challenges, including excessive resource consumption and significant environmental pollution. Here, we review the global demand volume for face masks and the associated energy consumption and pollution potential throughout their life cycle. First, the production and distribution processes consume petroleum-based raw materials and other energy sources and release greenhouse gases. Second, most methods of mask waste disposal result in secondary microplastic pollution and the release of toxic gases and organic substances. Third, face masks discarded in outdoor environments represent a new plastic pollutant and pose significant challenges to the environment and wildlife in various ecosystems. Therefore, the long-term impacts on environmental and wildlife health aspects related to the production, use, and disposal of face masks should be considered and urgently investigated. Here, we propose five reasonable countermeasures to alleviate these global-scale ecological crises induced by mask use during and following the COVID-19 pandemic era: increasing public awareness; improving mask waste management; innovating waste disposal methods; developing biodegradable masks; and formulating relevant policies and regulations. Implementation of these measures will help address the pollution caused by face masks.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Animals, Wild; COVID-19; Ecosystem; Masks; Pandemics; Plastics; Environmental Pollution
PubMed: 37178835
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164055 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Jun 2024Masks are face coverings that give protection from infectious agents, airborne pathogens, bacteria, viruses, surgical fog, dust, and other chemical hazards by acting as... (Review)
Review
Masks are face coverings that give protection from infectious agents, airborne pathogens, bacteria, viruses, surgical fog, dust, and other chemical hazards by acting as a barrier between the wearer and the environment. In the COVID-19 pandemic, this major personal protective equipment's became essential part of our daily life. The aim of this review is to analyze and discuss the different types of masks with their pros and cons, manufacturing procedures, evaluation criteria, and application with some of the sterilization process for reuse and smart mask. The review used a thorough examination of the literature to analyze the preventive effects of surgical, N95, smart mask, and potential environmental damage from those masks. Several studies and evidence were also examined to understand the efficiency of different mask on different environment. N95 respirators are capable of filtering out non-oil-based 95% air-born particles, and surgical masks act as a protective barrier between the wearer and the environment. The application of spoon bond and melt blown techniques in the fabrication process of those masks improves their protective nature and makes them lightweight and comfortable. But the high demand and low supply forced users to reuse and extend their use after sterilizations, even though those masks are recommended to be used once. Universal masking in the SARS-COV-2 pandemic increased the chance of environmental pollution, so the application of smart masks became essential because of their high protection power and self-sterilizing and reusing capabilities.
Topics: COVID-19; Masks; Humans; SARS-CoV-2; Environmental Pollution; Personal Protective Equipment; Pandemics; N95 Respirators
PubMed: 37968481
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30460-5 -
American Journal of Public Health Oct 2023
Topics: Humans; Masks; COVID-19
PubMed: 37672741
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2023.307377 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Aug 2023: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) provides positive pressure through different interfaces. A multifunctional full-face mask prototype was developed to provide NIV from... (Review)
Review
: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) provides positive pressure through different interfaces. A multifunctional full-face mask prototype was developed to provide NIV from three sources: ICU ventilators, portable ventilators, and high-flow medical gas pipeline systems. This study aimed to evaluate the usability of this prototype mask. : This was a quantitative experimental study, conducted in two phases: the development of a full-face mask prototype NIV interface, and the evaluation of its usability by health professionals (evaluators) using a heuristic approach. The Wolf Mask prototype is a multifunctional full-face mask that makes it possible to deliver positive pressure from three different sources: microprocessor-controlled ICU ventilators, portable ventilators with single-limb circuits, and high-flow medical gas. The evaluation was conducted in three stages: presentation of the prototype to the evaluators; skills testing via simulation in a clinical environment; and a review of skills. : The prototype was developed by a multidisciplinary team and patented in Brazil. The evaluators were 10 health professionals specializing in NIV. Seven skills related to handling the prototype were evaluated. Three of the ten evaluators called for (non-urgent) changes to improve recognition of the components of the prototype. Only one evaluator called for (non-urgent) changes to improve recognition of the pieces, assembly, and checking the mask. : The newly developed multifunctional full-face mask prototype demonstrated excellent usability for providing noninvasive ventilation from multiple sources. Minor modifications may further improve the design.
Topics: Noninvasive Ventilation; Masks; Respiration, Artificial; Brazil; Computer Simulation
PubMed: 37629700
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59081410 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Jul 2024The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our understanding of aerosol transmissible disease and the measures required to minimise transmission. Anaesthesia providers are... (Review)
Review
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed our understanding of aerosol transmissible disease and the measures required to minimise transmission. Anaesthesia providers are often in close proximity to patients and other hospital staff for prolonged periods while working in operating and procedure rooms. Although enhanced ventilation provides some protection from aerosol transmissible disease in these work areas, close proximity and long duration of exposure have the opposite effect. Surgical masks provide only minimal additional protection. Surgical patients are also at risk from viral and bacterial aerosols. Despite having recently experienced the most significant pandemic in 100 yr, we continue to lack adequate understanding of the true risks encountered from aerosol transmissible diseases in the operating room, and the best course of action to protect patients and healthcare workers from them in the future. Nevertheless, hospitals can take specific actions now by providing respirators for routine use, encouraging staff to utilise respirators routinely, establishing triggers for situations that require respirator use, educating staff concerning the prevention of aerosol transmissible diseases, and providing portable air purifiers for perioperative spaces with low levels of ventilation.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Operating Rooms; Aerosols; Infection Control; Occupational Exposure; Air Microbiology; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; Respiratory Protective Devices; Ventilation; Masks
PubMed: 38677948
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.03.025 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Nov 2023Airway-related articles have featured heavily in the British Journal of Anaesthesia since it was founded in 1923. In the 100 years thereafter, 1102 airway-related...
Airway-related articles have featured heavily in the British Journal of Anaesthesia since it was founded in 1923. In the 100 years thereafter, 1102 airway-related articles have been published in the journal, written by 2955 unique authors from 55 different countries. In this editorial, we highlight some of the major publications in airway management and their impact on the specialty. Summaries of the most cited articles are contained within online supplementary material as well as links to all airway-related articles for readers who wish to delve deeper into this body of work.
Topics: Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal; Laryngeal Masks; Laryngoscopy; Airway Management; Anesthesia
PubMed: 37775452
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.08.027 -
Scientific Reports Aug 2023Recent studies have found that face masks affect social cognition and behaviour in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The eyes, the only part of...
Recent studies have found that face masks affect social cognition and behaviour in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The eyes, the only part of the face not covered by face masks, are an important spatial attention cue that can trigger social attention orienting. Here, we adopted a spatial gaze-cueing task to investigate whether face masks affect social attention orienting triggered by eye gaze cues. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to determine the orientation of a target line under two types of cues-masked and non-masked faces-and two stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) conditions (300 ms and 1000 ms). The results showed that masked faces induced a smaller gaze-cueing effect (GCE) compared to non-masked faces at 300 ms SOA, while two face types induced similar GCEs at 1000 ms SOA. Experiment 2 used mouth-obscured faces and non-masked faces as cues and found that no significant difference in GCE between the two types at either 300 ms or 1000 ms SOA, indicating that the reduction of GCE caused by the masked face was due to the social meaning expressed by the mask rather than a physical effect of masking. The present study extends previous findings to support the idea that high-level social information affects the processing of eye gaze direction and provides evidence that face masks affect social cognition and behaviour in the context of COVID-19.
Topics: Humans; Reaction Time; Cues; Masks; COVID-19; Attention; Fixation, Ocular
PubMed: 37573401
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40195-5 -
Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem 2023to integrate evidence from studies on auditory perceptual and speech production effects in communication situations with face mask use. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
to integrate evidence from studies on auditory perceptual and speech production effects in communication situations with face mask use.
METHODS
an integrative literature review, in MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and Embase databases. The guiding question was: what effects on communication (perceptual-auditory and speech production) occur with face mask use?
RESULTS
searches in electronic databases resulted in 1,478 studies and filtering resulted in 29 final studies.
CONCLUSIONS
mask use has effects on communication, both in perception and speech production, factors that are also related to quality of life, stress and socio-emotional factors. These data can impact on indicators and alerts in favor of adopting strategies to manage mask use, involving speech production and perception when wearing a mask in health services.
Topics: Humans; Masks; Quality of Life; Communication; Databases, Factual; Emotions
PubMed: 37820148
DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2022-0674 -
Resuscitation Jun 2024
Topics: Humans; Respiration, Artificial; COVID-19; Masks; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
PubMed: 38705561
DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2024.110230