AimTo test the reliability and construct validity of the Mask Usability Scale in healthcare students and staff.DesignA methodological study involving repeated measures.MethodsThe study included two batches of participants: (1) 283 university nursing students and (2) 1753 participants composed of students (61%) and clinical staff (39%). All participants underwent N95 respirator fit tests and user seal checks. They also responded to the Mask Usability Scale, which comprises 11 items evaluated using Likert scales. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and item–total correlation test. Test–retest reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The factor structure was initially identified through exploratory factor analysis (EFA), laying the groundwork for the model. This approach was followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to ensure the model fits with the standardised solution.ResultsExcluding items 9, 10 and 11, the study showed satisfactory internal consistency, evidenced by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.842 for the eight‐item scale from the combined samples. Factors, such as ‘Heat’, ‘Breathability’, ‘Tightness’ and ‘Ease in talking’ showed moderate to strong correlations. The test–retest reliability in the batch one sample was acceptable with ICCs ranging between 0.69 and 0.71 for different models. The EFA and fit indices supported a two‐factor structure. The first factor ‘Comfort and Usage’ included ‘Heat’, ‘Breathability’, ‘Tightness’, ‘Ease in talking’ and ‘Prolonged use’, which were keys for the usability of N95 respirators. The second factor ‘Suitability’ encompassed ‘Itchy’, ‘Easily displaced’ and ‘Ear soreness’. The variance explained by the first and second factors was 49% and 12%, respectively, with a strong inter‐factor correlation. The CFA results were satisfactory with fit metrics (NFI = 0.967, IFI = 0.969, TLI = 0.952, CFI = 0.969, RMSEA = 0.078 with 90% CI [0.069, 0.086] and p < 0.001) and a chi‐squared to df ratio of 13.58.ConclusionThe eight‐item mask usability scale exhibited satisfactory internal consistency and construct validity in both healthcare student and staff samples.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareThe primary concern in the purchase policy of N95 respirators for clinical use is to strike the right balance between usability and fit rate (passing % of fit testing). Our study solidified the concept of quantifying the usability of respirators. With that mask usability scale measurement, a provision of benchmark and reference for the design and selection of respirators would be possible. This validated scale has significant implications for senior management in clinical settings and respirator manufacturers regarding the N95 respirator purchase policy and design.ImpactThe results indicated the psychometric properties of mask usability scale in measuring the usability of N95 respirators. This scale is particularly valuable for assessing the perceptions of healthcare students and staff of factors, namely, ‘Heat’, ‘Breathability’, ‘Tightness’, ‘Ease in talking’, ‘Prolonged use’, ‘Itchy’, ‘Easily displaced’ and ‘Ear soreness’ concerning the use of N95 respirators.Reporting MethodWe adhered to EQUATOR guidelines following the STROBE statement.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.Trial RegistrationISRCTN registry: ISRCTN40115047

中文翻译：

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口罩可用性量表的心理测量特性评估：医疗保健学生和教职员工对 N95 呼吸器感知可用性的衡量


目的在医疗保健学生和教职员工中测试口罩可用性量表的可靠性和构建效度。设计一项涉及重复测量的方法学研究。方法该研究包括两批参与者： （1） 283 名大学护理学生和 （2） 1753 名参与者，由学生 （61%） 和临床工作人员 （39%） 组成。所有参与者都接受了 N95 呼吸器适合性测试和用户密封检查。他们还对口罩可用性量表做出了回应，该量表包括使用李克特量表评估的 11 个项目。使用 Cronbach 的 alpha 和项目-总相关检验评估内部一致性。通过组内相关系数 （ICC） 评估重测信度。因子结构最初是通过探索性因子分析 （EFA） 确定的，为模型奠定了基础。这种方法之后是验证性因子分析 （CFA），以确保模型与标准化解决方案相匹配。结果除第 9、10 和 11 项外，该研究显示出令人满意的内部一致性，组合样本中八项量表的 Cronbach's alpha 为 0.842 证明了这一点。“热”、“透气性”、“紧绷度”和“易于交谈”等因素显示出中度到强相关性。批次 1 样品的重测信度是可以接受的，不同模型的 ICC 范围在 0.69 和 0.71 之间。EFA 和 fit 指数支持双因素结构。第一个因素“舒适度和使用”包括“热量”、“透气性”、“密封性”、“易于交谈”和“长时间使用”，这些都是 N95 口罩可用性的关键。第二个因素“适合性”包括“痒”、“容易移位”和“耳朵酸痛”。 第一个和第二个因素解释的方差分别为 49% 和 12%，具有很强的因素间相关性。CFA 结果令人满意，拟合指标 （NFI = 0.967， IFI = 0.969， TLI = 0.952， CFI = 0.969， RMSEA = 0.078 with 90% CI [0.069， 0.086] 和 p < 0.001） 和卡方与 df 比为 13.58.结论八项掩码可用性量表在医疗保健学生和教职员工样本中都表现出令人满意的内部一致性和结构效度。对专业和/或患者护理的影响在临床用 N95 呼吸器的购买政策中，主要关注点是在可用性和拟合率之间取得适当的平衡（通过拟合测试的百分比）。我们的研究巩固了量化呼吸器可用性的概念。通过该口罩可用性量表测量，可以为呼吸器的设计和选择提供基准和参考。这一经过验证的量表对临床环境中的高级管理人员和呼吸器制造商在 N95 呼吸器购买政策和设计方面具有重大影响。影响结果表明口罩可用性量表在测量 N95 呼吸器可用性方面的心理测量特性。该量表对于评估医护学生和工作人员对使用 N95 呼吸器的因素的看法特别有价值，即“热”、“透气”、“紧绷”、“说话容易”、“长时间使用”、“发痒”、“容易移位”和“耳朵酸痛”。报告方法我们遵循 STROBE 声明，遵守 EQUATOR 指南。患者或公众捐款没有患者或公众捐款。试验注册ISRCTN 注册： ISRCTN40115047