The Complaints of Health Workers After Mask Usage

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complaints of health workers after the use of masks. Methods: Individuals who were actively working at the hospital and who agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. The questionnaire form was created by the researchers with respect to recent literature and was applied by the face-to-face inquiry method. Results: The study included 1557 health workers. Experiencing at least one side effect related to the mask was reported to be 72.7% (n=1135). While systemic side 40% effects (n=625) were seen; local side effects concerning the nose were 67.3% (n=1051). The most common skin-related side effect was defined as acne 38.6% (n=603). The most common systemic side effect was dyspnea (37.5%; n=585). There was a relationship between having at least one side effect and the total mask load. In addition, there was a relationship between total mask load with systemic side effects and local effects. Conclusion: The most common side effects were mostly local effects, and most of them were scar formation in the nose. A correlation was found between mask load and side effects, calculated by the type and duration of mask use. Keywords: COVID-19, healthcare workers, masks