Lifting dyspnoea invisibility: COVID-19 face masks, the experience of breathing discomfort, and improved lung health perception - a French nationwide survey.

QUESTION ADDRESSED: In contrast with pain, dyspnoea is not visible to the general public, who lack the corresponding experiential baggage. We tested the hypothesis that the generalised use of face masks to fight severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 dissemination could change this and sensitise people to respiratory health. METHODS: General population polling (1012-person panel demographically representative of the adult French population, quota sampling method; 517 (51%) female). 860 (85%) answered "no" to "treated for a chronic respiratory disease" ("respiratory healthy"), and 152 answered "yes" ("respiratory disease"). 14% of respiratory healthy respondents reported having a close family member treated for a chronic respiratory disease (RH-family+ ). Respondents described mask-related attitudes, beliefs, inconveniencies, dyspnoea and changes in their respiratory health vision . RESULTS: Compliance with masks was high (94.7%). Dyspnoea ranked first among mask inconveniencies (respiratory disease 79.3%, respiratory healthy 67.3%; p=0.013). "Air hunger" was the main sensory dyspnoea descriptor. Mask-related dyspnoea was independently associated with belonging to RH-family+ (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.16-2.98) and removing masks to improve breathing (OR 5.21, 95% CI 3.73-7.28). It was negatively associated with considering masks effective to protect others (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.25-0.75). Half the respondents were more concerned with their respiratory health since wearing masks; 41% reported better understanding patients' experiences. ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: Wearing protective face masks leads to the mass discovery of breathing discomfort. It raises public awareness of what respiratory diseases involve and sensitivity to the importance of breathing. These data should be used as the fulcrum of respiratory health oriented communication actions.

[The advanced practice nurse in post-COViD-19 respiratory follow up]. / L'IPA dans le suivi respiratoire post-Covid-19.

The setting up of an advanced practice nursing activity to monitor patients with severe or very severe pneumonia associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, is a reponse to the population's new health care needs and a massive influx of patients. The skills of the advanced practice nurse are mobilised in this context in order to carry out prevention missions and screening for potential sequelae which could lead to chronic respiratory failure.