Abstract：
This study compared the effectiveness of N95 FFRs in providing respiratory protection for healthcare staff in a residential aged care facility (RACF) and tertiary teaching hospital (TTH) who had previously passed their occupational respiratory protection program fit test. A total of 126 healthcare workers who were regularly using N95 FFRs and who had previously passed a fit test participated in this comparative study. In this study, participants were again fit tested with the PortaCount machine, and their self-assessed tolerability of wearing an N95 FFR was assessed using a standardized questionnaire. The main outcome measures included the pass rate of the fit test and the assessment of tolerability and comfort of the N95 FFR. Across all participants, the fit test pass rate was low (27%), indicating persistent gaps in respiratory protection programs for healthcare workers during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital workers were 3.7 times more likely to pass the test compared to their counterparts in RACFs (p < 0.001). It was also found that workers in RACFs reported higher levels of discomfort and overall dissatisfaction with N95 FFRs compared to hospital staff. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and improvements in respiratory protection practices beyond annual fit testing, particularly in RACFs, to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and the vulnerable population they serve.
摘要：
这项研究比较了N95FFRs为先前通过职业呼吸保护计划适合性测试的老年护理机构（RACF）和三级教学医院（TTH）的医护人员提供呼吸保护的有效性。共有126名经常使用N95FFRs且先前通过了适应性测试的医护人员参加了这项比较研究。在这项研究中,参与者再次接受了PortaCount机器的测试，他们对佩戴N95FFR的自评耐受性使用标准化问卷进行评估.主要结果指标包括拟合测试的通过率以及对N95FFR的耐受性和舒适度的评估。在所有参与者中，拟合测试通过率低(27%)，表明在正在进行的COVID-19大流行期间，医护人员的呼吸保护计划存在持续差距。与RACF中的同行相比，医院工作人员通过测试的可能性是其3.7倍（p<0.001）。还发现，与医院工作人员相比，RACF中的工人对N95FFRs的不适和总体不满程度更高。这些发现突出表明，除年度拟合测试外，还需要有针对性的干预措施和改进呼吸保护措施。特别是在RACF中，确保医护人员和他们所服务的弱势群体的安全。
