Sezer, HaleCinar, DeryaAkca, Nazan Kilic2024-03-092024-03-0920231471-59531873-5223https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103779https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14034/1315Aims: This study was conducted to examine the effects of using surgical masks on nursing students' cognitive and physiological parameters during full-time face-to-face teaching during the pandemic.Background: It is known that the use of surgical masks has effects on health professionals' physiological parameters.Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study with a pretest-posttest design was conducted. The study was carried out at a state university.Methods: Sixty-one nursing students taking Internal Medicine Nursing course in the fall semester during the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. Study data were collected by using a Descriptive Information Form, the Cognitive Fatigue Scale, the One-way Dyspnea Scale and the Cognitive Reaction Time application in a theoretical course that took 310 min on 15 November 2021. Students' physiological parameters were measured by using a thermometer and pulse oximetry.Results: It was found that students' cognitive fatigue levels (p < 0.001) and body temperature increased (p < 0.001) and that cognitive reaction rates (p = 0.05) and pulse rates decreased (p < 0.001). It was determined that after the lesson, there was a weak positive correlation between nursing students' level of dyspnea and body temperature and their cognitive fatigue levels (p < 0.05).Conclusions: It was determined that the use of surgical masks during full-time face-to-face teaching increased students' cognitive fatigue and decreased their cognitive reaction rates. The research will have an impact on redesigning the curriculum for face-to-face teaching. Lecturers should revise their teaching by taking these findings into account.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessMedical Nursing; Nursing Students; Nurse Education; Infection Control; Curriculum Planning; Health PromotionArticle10.1016/j.nepr.2023.10377972N/AWOS:0010795892000012-s2.0-8517146349837717408Q1