Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33297438›Full record

ArticleBiology2020

Increased Prevalence of Face Mask-Induced Itch in Health Care Workers.

Piotr K Krajewski, Łukasz Matusiak, Marta Szepietowska, Rafał Białynicki-Birula, Jacek C Szepietowski

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.9field-weighted citation impact, top 5% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 34 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. The Protective Effects of Moisturizer ContainingInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2023
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  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Review
  14. SARS-CoV-2: skin diseases, mask wearing and unpleasant sensations.Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV · 2021
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Use of Respiratory Protection Devices by Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Article
  17. Community Use of Face Masks against the Spread of COVID-19.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021
    Article
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Piotr K KrajewskiDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-4722-8531
Łukasz MatusiakDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Marta SzepietowskaDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0002-4843-4073
Rafał Białynicki-BirulaDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.
Jacek C SzepietowskiDepartment of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland.ORCID 0000-0003-0766-6342
Wroclaw Medical University · PL

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFace mask use has increased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers (HCW) wear masks for prolonged periods and are prone to adverse effects. Very little is known about face-mask-associated itch.

methodsThis Internet survey study investigated the prevalence, intensity and clinical characteristics of itch related to the use of face masks by HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were subsequently compared to the students' group.

resultsA total of 1156 HCW completed the survey. Among them, 31.6% (365) reported suffering from itch associated with face mask use. Itch was more frequent among females. Moreover, subjects who reported sensitive skin, atopic predispositions and facial dermatoses tended to report itch more frequently. The worst case of itch in the seven days prior to the study, assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS), was 4.6 ± 2.0 points. Itch prevalence increased along with the duration of face mask use, being 34.6% among those who wore masks for more than 4 h. HCW reported itch significantly more frequently than students.

conclusionsFace-mask-associated itch is a frequent problem among HCW in the COVID-19 pandemic. Itch sensation may cause scratching, which may decrease necessary protection during the pandemic.

Indexed as

face maskshealth care workersitchpersonal protective equipment

Identifiers

PMID33297438
PMCPMC7762243
OpenAlexW3111185858

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.