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March 12, 2026Industrial Health0 citationsOpen Access

Is face shape associated with fitness of respiratory personal protective equipment-N95 masks?

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HCHsiang-Tai CHENCTChia-Ying TSAICYChen-Cheng Yang

Key Points

  • This study aims to determine the relationship between face shape and the effectiveness of N95 mask fit tests among healthcare workers.
  • Conducted qualitative fit tests on healthcare workers based on face shape categories.
  • Participants were categorized into round, square, long, and oval face shapes.
  • Analyzed fit test pass rates for each face shape among 352 healthcare workers.
  • 287 out of 352 participants passed the fit test.
  • Long-shaped face participants had a passing rate of 80.2%.
  • Oval-shaped faces showed the highest passing rate at 91.7%.
  • Round-shaped faces had a significantly lower passing rate of 42.9%.

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of face shape on the pass rate of personal protective equipment N95 mask fit tests among Taiwanese healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fit tests are crucial for controlling and preventing infection, but research indicates that face shape can affect the test's effectiveness. HCWs underwent a qualitative fit test and were categorized into round, square, long, and oval face shapes based on their profile pictures. A total of 352 HCWs participated the intervention, and 287 participants passed the test, among those participants, long shaped face had a passing rate of 80.2% and oval-shaped faces was 91.7%, while round-shaped faces had the lowest passing rate of 42.9%. This study reveals that long and oval shaped face participants in Taiwanese healthcare workers have a higher fitting rate than round-shaped participants, indicating better mask fit test pass rates.

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Cite This Study

CHEN et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b2575e96eeacc4fcec5f24https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2025-0109
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