Analysis of Problem Awareness in Hygiene Mask Wearers: A Cross-Sectional Survey

抄録

This study aims to suggest improvements in the functionality and comfort of hygiene masks. Our preliminary study surveyed users' actual experiences of wearing masks from individual sensory, cognitive, and holistic perspectives. We surveyed 1519 Japanese university students, obtaining information on whether they wore masks, the purpose of the mask, and if there were any problems with wearing masks. We studied reported problems versus intended use by calculating the co-occurrence relationship. The aggregated results showed that women wore masks more frequently than men, and the most common reasons for wearing them were to guard against influenza and the common cold. Reported problems, such as discomfort due to “Humidity”, were cited by both men and women. Using a text mining approach, we identified that this awareness of problems brought on a “feeling of distraction”. Our findings will aid in the design and development of less unpleasant and more practical masks.