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      Comfort and exertion while using filtering facepiece respirators with exhalation valve and an active venting system among male military personnel

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          Abstract

          INTRODUCTION

          This study aimed to determine if disposable filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) that come with an exhalation valve (EV) and a novel active venting system (AVS) provided greater perceived comfort and exertion when compared to standard N95 FFRs without these features among male military personnel performing prolonged essential outdoor duties.

          METHODS

          We used a randomised open-label controlled crossover study design to compare three FFR options: (a) standard FFR; (b) FFR with EV; and (c) FFR with EV+AVS. Male military personnel aged between 18 and 20 years completed a questionnaire at the start of outdoor duty (baseline), after two hours of standardised non-strenuous outdoor duty and after 12 hours of duty divided into two-hour work-rest cycles. Participants rated the degree of discomfort, exertion and symptoms using a five-point Likert scale. The association between outcomes and types of FFR was assessed using a multivariate ordered probit mixed-effects model.

          RESULTS

          For a majority of the symptoms, study participants gave FFR with EV and FFR EV+AVS significantly better scores than standard FFR. Both FFR with EV and FFR with EV+AVS had significantly less discomfort (FFR with EV+AVS: 91.1%; FFR with EV: 57.6%) and exertion (FFR with EV+AVS: 83.5%; FFR with EV: 34.4%) than standard FFR. FFR with EV+AVS also had significantly better scores for exertion (53.4%) and comfort (39.4%) when compared to FFR with EV.

          CONCLUSION

          Usage of FFR with EV+AVS resulted in significantly reduced symptoms, discomfort and exertion when compared to FFR with EV and standard FFR.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          Singapore Med J
          Singapore Med J
          Singapore Medical Journal
          Singapore Medical Association (Singapore )
          0037-5675
          June 2018
          : 59
          : 6
          : 327-334
          Affiliations
          [1 ]Preventive Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
          [2 ]Biodefence Centre, Force Medical Protection Command, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, Singapore
          [3 ]SingHealth Internal Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
          [4 ]Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore
          [5 ]Yale-NUS College, National University of Singapore, Singapore
          Author notes
          Correspondence: A/Prof Vernon Jian Ming Lee, Head, Biodefence Centre, Force Medical Protection Command, Singapore Armed Forces Medical Corps, Singapore 778910. vernonljm@ 123456hotmail.com
          [*]

          These two authors contributed equally to the study.

          Article
          PMC6024212 PMC6024212 6024212 SMJ-59-327
          10.11622/smedj.2017054
          6024212
          28681057
          bac1adb9-482a-4057-a0ca-aadb7b0bd1b0
          Copyright: © Singapore Medical Association
          History
          Categories
          Original Article

          comfort,N95 respirator,exhalation valves,exertion,active venting system

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