Tolerability, user acceptance and preference for a novel reusable respirator among health care workers

• Published in: American journal of infection control Vol. 51; no. 7; pp. 821 - 826
• Main Authors: Zhuang, Eileen, Chen, Hegang H., Kolesnik, Olga, Hines, Stella E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2023
• Subjects: COVID-19; Elastomeric; Health care; PAPR; Respiratory protection; User acceptance; Health care; COVID-19; Elastomeric; Respiratory protection; PAPR; User acceptance
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.09.006

•CleanSpace Halo powered respirators have clear facemasks without belts or hoses.•Health care workers gave favorable tolerability scores to Halo respirators.•Many Halo users preferred this respirator during routine and COVID-19 patient care.•Health care workers’ favorable perceptions of Halo respirators persisted over time. The CleanSpace Technology Halo respirator combines a clear face mask and a powered air supply, without belts or hoses. Although providing higher protection than other respirators used in health care, user acceptance of this device has not been assessed with validated tools. We surveyed healthcare workers (HCWs) within a US medical system using Halo respirators in 2021. Subjects completed 3 surveys over 8 weeks, which included the Respirator Comfort, Wearing Experience, and Function Instrument (R-COMFI), a validated tool to assess respirator tolerability. The survey included additional questions about user acceptability and respirator preference. Responses were evaluated for change over time and for significant predictors. Of 113 HCWs who completed the initial survey (29% response rate), mean ± SD R-COMFI score was 9.1± 5.1, (scale 0-47, lower = more tolerable) and did not change over time (P = .42). Fewer years in healthcare significantly predicted better R-COMFI score (P = .01). Many users preferred Halo in both usual care (45%-52%) and care of patients with COVID-19 (60%-64%). Halo respirators received favorable tolerability scores by HCWs, who often preferred them, especially during care of patients with COVID-19. Given demand for respirator use in health care, the innovative design provides higher protection than other respirators with a favorable user experience.