{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T18:29:17Z","timestamp":1764786557344,"version":"3.46.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764720000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000024","name":"Canadian Institute for Health Research","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["202005VR4-447804-CCF"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202005VR4-447804-CCF"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000024","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Ontario Graduate Fellowship Award","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a global impact, underscoring the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE). Use of N95s reduces the risk of airborne infection; however, in the absence of equitable designs, health care workers (HCWs) who do not fit the average White male head and face are at an increased risk of airborne infectious diseases.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Primary: Feasibility of a mixed-method study, with a sample size of 100, 50% of participants self-identifying as non-White and having at least one characteristic of interest. Secondary: (1) Generate quantitative evidence on N95 fit using a PortaCount fit test, (2) describe participant-reported feelings on fit and breathability, and (3) evaluate the impacts of the pandemic on a HCW\u2019s physical and mental well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This was a mixed-method prospective pilot and feasibility study. Quantitative fit was assessed using a TSI PortaCount test and measurements of bizygomatic breadth and Menton-Sellion length. A survey was administered to collect sociodemographic information, HCWs\u2019 assessment of N95 fit, comfort, and the impact of PPE-related challenges on well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study was limited by a small sample size, as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions prevented adequate recruitment to detect differences between groups. We describe key findings that should inform analyses of the impact of gender and ethnicity on N95 respirator fit. Following a study amendment to increase eligible sites, 37 of the 41 (90.2%) approached HCWs consented to participate. Compared to other HCWs, non-White females had the lowest mean fit factor. Differences in Menton-Sellion length and bizygomatic breadth were observed between males, females, and White and non-White HCWs. Most HCWs reported physical discomfort and negative impacts on their psychological well-being.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec005\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We identified gender and ethnicity as key factors in the fit of N95s. Differences in gender, ethnicity, and anthropometric measures must be considered in respirator designs.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0328746","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T18:24:22Z","timestamp":1764786262000},"page":"e0328746","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Evaluating N95 respirator designs: A mixed-methods pilot and feasibility 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