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Experiences and problems with hygiene masks reported by Japanese hay fever sufferers

Mika Morishima (Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan)
Koya Kishida (The Institute for Science of Labour, Kawasaki, Japan)
Takashi Uozumi (Department of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Muroran Institute of Technology, Muroran, Japan)
Masayoshi Kamijo (Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Ueda, Japan)

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology

ISSN: 0955-6222

Article publication date: 29 July 2014

247

Abstract

Purpose

In Japan, one of the countermeasures used to avoid the symptoms of hay fever (HF) is a hygiene mask; however, a mask can cause discomfort. The authors believe that co-occurrence analysis, which has been widely in the sciences, will be valuable to this issue. The purpose of this paper is to identify problems associated with the use of hygiene masks and recommend improvements in their function and comfort. The goal of this study was to obtain information for the development of effective hygiene masks for HF sufferers and therefore, improve their quality of life.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a survey of university students with HF (n=1,519) to identify problems with hygiene masks. Students completed self-report questionnaires and co-occurrence analyses were used to examine the data from a holistic perspective. Moreover, technical data, relative to the problems of wearing a mask were acquired experimentally using thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties.

Findings

Among Japanese university students, hygiene masks were the most popular countermeasure against HF symptoms. In addition, it was found that wearing a mask was not influenced of the type of symptoms. Most problems were related to the masks’ thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties.

Originality/value

The paper proposed the use of co-occurrence analysis to analyze problems with hygiene masks. Most problems appear to be related to the thermal, hygroscopic, and airflow properties of the masks. Moreover, such phenomena have been experimentally demonstrated.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are especially grateful to the teaching staff at the university for their cooperation in conducting the questionnaire survey. This study was partially supported by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B), No. 23700868, 2013.

Citation

Morishima, M., Kishida, K., Uozumi, T. and Kamijo, M. (2014), "Experiences and problems with hygiene masks reported by Japanese hay fever sufferers", International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 262-273. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-08-2013-0093

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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