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Subject Area

Health Care

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the necessity of effective face masks in both public and healthcare settings for mitigating the spread of disease. However, traditional face masks impede communication, posing significant challenges for approximately 13% of the general population and 10% of healthcare and social assistance workers who have hearing loss and who rely on lipreading and other non-verbal cues. Traditional surgical masks and N95 respirator masks serve important roles in healthcare, but they differ in levels of protection. Currently, a transparent surgical mask is available, but not an N95 version. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the usability, fit, and communicative effectiveness of a prototype, transparent N95 mask compared to a traditional N95 mask. Participants aged 18 and older, including individuals with and without hearing loss, were recruited for quasi-randomized fit testing of traditional and prototype, non-transparent N95 masks performed using the mandated Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fit testing protocol. Fit testing was conducted with 202 participants, most of whom identified as health workers. The participants then completed a survey covering mask fit, comfort, and usability. The transparent mask achieved a higher pass rate in OSHA fit testing than the traditional N95 mask, validating its use in this comparative study. In general, quantitative analyses revealed a strong preference and positive perceived value for the transparent mask. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data from a single open-ended item revealed 10 primary themes: Improved Communication, Comfort and Fit, Accessibility and Inclusivity, Professional Settings, Positive User Experience, Emotional Connection, Improvement Suggestions, Education and Awareness, Potential for Various Settings, and Safety and Protection. The transparent mask significantly improved communication, particularly for those relying on speachreading. The transparent N95 mask thus offers a viable solution for mitigating communication barriers in healthcare while maintaining the well-established protective benefits of N95 masks. Their adoption could enhance patient–provider interactions, improve patient outcomes, and foster a more inclusive environment in healthcare and other professional settings, especially for those with hearing loss.

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