Effect of Respiratory Protection Devices on Speech Intelligibility Among Healthcare Workers in a Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare communication
• Occupational safety
• Audiology

Background:

• Effective communication is vital for healthcare staff safety, team performance, and patient care.
• Respiratory personal protective equipment (PPE), crucial for protecting against pathogens, can impair speech intelligibility.
• The COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of respiratory protection in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of various respiratory PPE on speech intelligibility among healthcare workers.

Main Methods:

• Healthcare workers underwent audiology-based testing using the Modified Rhyme Test (MRT).
• Participants were exposed to two background noise levels while wearing six different types of respiratory PPE.
• Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were employed for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Speech intelligibility, measured by MRT scores, significantly decreased when wearing the CleanSpace Halo and elastomeric half mask respirator (EHMR).
• The EHMR, with or without an exhalation valve filter, showed significant reductions in MRT scores.
• Adjustments were made for noise level, listener PPE, and within-participant correlation.

Conclusions:

• The elastomeric half mask respirator (EHMR) demonstrably reduces speech intelligibility, potentially compromising clear communication.
• Further research into respiratory PPE design is necessary to maximize speech intelligibility and optimize communication effectiveness.
• Improved PPE design can enhance safety and collaboration in healthcare environments.