Knowledge of face masks and attitudes to re-sterilisation among healthcare workers

Abstract Introduction: COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. With the sudden surge in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), significant concerns regarding the ongoing availability emerged. One solution proposed is re-sterilization of respirator masks and this has been commenced in some parts of the world. On review of the literature, very little is documented regarding knowledge of masks and the attitudes of healthcare workers towards using re-sterilised masks.Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire was used to assess general knowledge and attitudes around facemasks and respirators.Results: There were 190 respondents. There were significant gaps in knowledge and understanding of when particular face masks should be worn. One third had significant concerns about ongoing availability. One third had concerns about the quality of the masks as the pandemic continued. Only 10% of respondents underwent formal face-fitting. 80% of respondents stated they would wear a re-sterilised mask. A further 15% would use a re-sterilised mask but required certain reassurances. 5% of our respondents would not use a re-sterilised mask under any circumstances.Discussion: Ensuring an adequate understanding of face masks is crucial among HCWs and this study highlights a need for further education. It also demonstrates a general acceptability among HCWs towards the use of re-sterilised face masks.