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Article

Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic †

by
Ekaterina A. Shashina
*,
Valentina V. Makarova
,
Denis V. Shcherbakov
,
Tatiana S. Isiutina-Fedotkova
,
Nadezhda N. Zabroda
,
Nina A. Ermakova
,
Anton Yu. Skopin
and
Oleg V. Mitrokhin
Institute of Public Health, Department of General Hygiene, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119991 Moscow, Russia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
This paper is an extended version of our conference paper published in Proceedings of the 3rd International Electronic Conference on Environmental Research and Public Health—Public Health Issues in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: online, 11–25 January 2021.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5834; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115834
Submission received: 28 April 2021 / Revised: 24 May 2021 / Accepted: 25 May 2021 / Published: 28 May 2021

Abstract

The use of face masks has assumed a leading spot among nonspecific prevention measures during the coronavirus pandemic. The effectiveness of this protective measure depends on the specifics of individual use. The purpose of our study was to analyze the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation of face mask use was based on the results of a survey of medical students at Sechenov University. There were 988 participants in the study: 97.5% used RPE during the pandemic, 89.1% used disposable medical and hygienic face masks, 27.4% used reusable cloth face masks, and 13.2% used respirators. The majority of respondents (75.2%) were found to wear face masks correctly. However, 17.0% of the respondents were found to cover only their mouths with a face mask, while 7.8% reported often shifting their face mask under the chin due to perceived discomfort. Only 25.1% of respondents changed their disposable face mask after 2–3 h of wearing, while 13.0% decontaminated and used it several times. Most cloth face mask users (93.7%) decontaminated their marks, but only 55.7% of respondents did so daily. Face masks were most often worn in medical organizations (91.5%), and 1.4% of respondents did not use respiratory protection anywhere. In conclusion, we consider it necessary to introduce a special module on nonspecific prevention in the discipline of hygiene.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; face mask; medical students; coronavirus; respiratory protection devices COVID-19 pandemic; face mask; medical students; coronavirus; respiratory protection devices

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Shashina, E.A.; Makarova, V.V.; Shcherbakov, D.V.; Isiutina-Fedotkova, T.S.; Zabroda, N.N.; Ermakova, N.A.; Skopin, A.Y.; Mitrokhin, O.V. Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115834

AMA Style

Shashina EA, Makarova VV, Shcherbakov DV, Isiutina-Fedotkova TS, Zabroda NN, Ermakova NA, Skopin AY, Mitrokhin OV. Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(11):5834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115834

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shashina, Ekaterina A., Valentina V. Makarova, Denis V. Shcherbakov, Tatiana S. Isiutina-Fedotkova, Nadezhda N. Zabroda, Nina A. Ermakova, Anton Yu. Skopin, and Oleg V. Mitrokhin. 2021. "Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115834

APA Style

Shashina, E. A., Makarova, V. V., Shcherbakov, D. V., Isiutina-Fedotkova, T. S., Zabroda, N. N., Ermakova, N. A., Skopin, A. Y., & Mitrokhin, O. V. (2021). Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 5834. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115834

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