THE EFFECT OF SURGICAL MASK AND N95 MASK USE ON SURGICAL SMOKE IN OPERATING ROOM NURSES

Bartın Unıversity

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Heart Rate Determination; Fatigue Symptom; Eye Allergies; SpO2; Surgical Smoke Exposure; Headache; Abdominal Pain (AP); Muscle Aches; Nause and Vomiting; Dizziness; Occupational Exposure to Surgical Smoke; Muscle Weakness | Patient; Dispnea

Treatments: Device: Surgical Mask; Device: N95 Mask

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07404956

BARU-SBF-2025-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study was conducted to compare the effect of surgical mask and N95 mask use on physical symptoms due to surgical smoke in operating theatre nurses. The study, which was conducted in a single-group prospective quasi-experimental design, was completed with 38 nurses in the operating theatre unit of a state hospital in the Western Black Sea Region. Data were collected for four weeks using the Descriptive Information Form, Numerical Rating Scale and Symptom Follow-up Form. According to the findings, muscle weakness, myalgia in the upper extremities and muscle cramps were statistically significantly less in nurses using N95 masks. Respiratory parameters, watery eyes and redness were significantly lower in nurses using surgical masks. As a result, it was determined that the type of mask was effective on the incidence of physical symptoms related to surgical smoke.

Enrollment: 38 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Willingness to participate in the study
• Aged 18 years or older
• Working as a sterile operating room nurse at least 4 hours per day, 5 days per week
• Compliance with the protocol requiring continuous use of both surgical mask and N95 mask for at least 4 hours per day
• Ability to communicate verbally and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders
• Presence of chronic respiratory, musculoskeletal, or neurological diseases
• Presence of chronic dermatological conditions or allergies affecting the facial or respiratory area
• Speech or communication impairments
• Pregnancy
• Holding a supervisory role (e.g., charge nurse) or non-sterile nursing role
• Planned unit change or rotation during the study period

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

38 participants in 2 patient groups

Surgical Mask

Experimental group

Description:

Operating room nurses used a standard surgical mask during surgical procedures with exposure to surgical smoke.

Treatment:

Device: Surgical Mask

N95 Mask

Experimental group

Description:

Operating room nurses used an N95 respirator during surgical procedures with exposure to surgical smoke.

Treatment:

Device: N95 Mask