[01] Yong Chhin Wai, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [02] Pon Jun Yee, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [03] Vaseela Rahima Binti Mohamed Thastheen, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [04] Charnishya a/p Jagathesa Rao, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [05] Adrian Dass a/l Simon Muthudass, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka-Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia.

Face mask is a simple, loose fitting and disposable device that helps to block large particle droplets that may contain germs. It is widely used by the medical professions to maintain a sterile field during a surgery. On early January 2020, the general population was ordered to use face mask after the rapid spread of coronavirus worldwide. Therefore, face mask is playing an important role in controlling the spread of this virus. Its quality on daily wear is really an important issue to be studied so that it would be more protective and comfortable on wearing. This research was designed to study the important potential side effects of face mask and to determine the factors associated with skin allergy, headache, breathing difficulty, sight discomfort and skin breakdown when wearing a face mask. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021. A study population of 1500 undergraduate students in Melaka Manipal Medical College was selected. Purposive sampling was used to enroll students for this study and they were asked to answer the questionnaire. Frequency table, percentages, odd ratio and Chi-square test were used for data analysis. All the statistical significances were tested by two-tailed test (p≤0.05). A total of 183 medical students participated; 21.86% of the students experienced breathing difficulty problems while wearing the mask while 78.14% were not experiencing it. Besides that, 21.31% of the students participated reported having itchiness while wearing it and 78.69% of them did not have itchiness. Furthermore, 14.21% of the students experienced redness while wearing it. 132 students which is 72.13% showed presence of acne problem while wearing face mask. There were 62.30% of the students felt pain while wearing the mask and 37.7% of them did not have it. Dizziness or fatigue was experienced by 23.50% of the students which is 43 of them while wearing face mask. Last but not least, 67.76% of the students participated showed that sight discomfort was one of the problems faced by them while wearing face mask. In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the global population to adopt new ways of living, including the wearing of masks as a new norm. It has even accelerated R&D efforts in mask materials and design to offer better protection for users against airborne pollutants and pathogens. Mask wearing can be effective in the containment of communicable diseases.

Side Effects, Face Mask, Cross Sectional Study, Undergraduate Students

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