Assessment of Effects on Prolonged Usage of Face Mask by ENT Professionals During Covid-19 Pandemic

The protection efficacy of face masks during this covid 19 pandemic has been well documented. The changes in human nasal functions after wearing facemask for prolonged period is not known. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of prolonged usage of facemask by ENT professionals during covid 19 pandemic. It is a cross sectional study conducted in department of ENT in Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kelambakkam. A self-constructed questionnaire containing 21 queries regarding the effects of prolonged use of face mask, after being analysed by the experts of our institution were distributed to 124 ENT professionals all over India. People who are ENT by professionals can participate in this study. Participation is voluntary. Study period was from March 2020 to December 2020. All answered questionnaires were sent for statistical analysis. 63.71% experienced difficulty in breathing while wearing face mask, 37.10% experienced dry nose, 46.77% experienced dry mouth. The most common modality of prevention in an OPD setup was face mask with face shield (31.45%). About 80.65% people believed there are side effects due to wearing mask. Since facemasks are essential to protect us from COVID-19, certain strategies can be followed to reduce the discomfort due to its prolonged usage such as encouraging nasal breathing, taking short breaks from wearing mask in a safe environment and to maintain hydration.