Faculty Perspective on Physical Symptoms and Signs Wearing Personal Protective Equipment During COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examined faculty perspectives on physical symptoms and signs of wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing aerosolised dental treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A subjective symptoms survey on wearing COVID-19 PPE was sent to all clinical faculty at a Midwestern dental school via BlueEval, the university's survey program. Following the survey, sixteen faculty members participated in the phase 2 objective study assessing vital signs with PPE usage. Data were analysed using SPSS 28 statistical software.

The phase 1 response rate was approximately 52.7% (59/112). Results showed that overall, 88.1% reported decreased ability to communicate, 69.5% felt smothered, and 56.1% had headaches. Comparisons across gender-age groups showed a significant difference in reporting headaches between young females (90.0%) and older males (29.4%). The before and after vital sign measurements in phase 2 across all sixteen volunteers showed a significant increase in temperature of 0.26°F ± 0.31°F.

PPE protects all healthcare workers from transmitting diseases. This study showed several symptoms, including decreased communication ability, smothering, external ear discomfort, and headaches in significantly higher percentages. Reported signs included a reduction in mean pulse rate in younger males and females but increased in older males and females.