Respirator Effects in Impaired Workers

描述(由申请人提供)：该研究项目将开发和评估快速使许多人(浪涌反应)和工作场所的工人能够使用呼吸器的方法，而不能接触到职业健康专家。这项工作将比较三种培训方法(印刷手册、视频和基于计算机的培训)。将调查决定呼吸器耐受性的因素。这些包括多领域的主观反应和生理因素，如呼吸模式和呼吸调节功。将调查个人因素的影响，如健康状况和心理物理呼吸负荷敏感度。这项工作将包括促进面罩尺寸选择(例如面部尺寸)的方法以及使用热成像来识别面部密封面泄漏的方法。定量匹配测试、模拟工作表现和耐力将在培训后和六个月后立即进行评估。将招募不同的受试者，其中包括说英语和西班牙语的人；将使用弹性半面罩和过滤面罩呼吸器。拟议的跨部门研究将建立在最近的调查基础上，并可能导致更有效的呼吸保护计划。 公共卫生相关性：该研究项目将开发和评估使用户能够安全和有效地使用口罩的方法。该项目将比较三种培训方法(印刷手册、视频和基于计算机的培训方法)，评估决定呼吸器耐受性的主观和生理因素，并开发用于泄漏检测的口罩尺寸选择和热成像方法。这项研究将有助于许多人、工人和小型工作场所快速启用呼吸器(浪涌反应)的能力。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The research project will develop and evaluate methods for rapidly respirator-enabling many persons (surge response) and workers in small workplaces without access to occupational health experts. The work will compare three training methods (printed brochure, video, and computer-based). Factors determining respirator tolerance will be investigated. These include multi-domain subjective responses and physiologic factors such as respiratory pattern and work of breathing adjustment. The effect of personal factors such as health status and psychophysical respiratory load sensitivity will be investigated. The work will include methods to facilitate mask size selection (e.g., facial dimension) and the use of thermal imaging to identify facial sealing surface leakage. Quantitative fit testing, simulated work performance, and tolerance will be evaluated immediately after training and after six months. A diverse group of subjects will be recruited and will include English and Spanish speakers; elastomeric half facemask and filtering facepiece respirators will be used. The proposed cross sector research will build upon recent investigations and potentially lead to more effective respiratory protection programs. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The research project will develop and evaluate methods for enabling users to safely and effectively use respirators. The project will compare three training methods (printed brochure, video, and computer-based), assess subjective and physiologic factors determining respirator tolerance, and develop methods for mask size selection and thermal imaging for leak detection. The research will contribute to the ability to rapidly respirator-enable many persons (surge response) and workers and small workplaces.