Table 1.

Baseline characteristics of participants

AllTaste test ‘pass’Taste test ‘fail’
Number of participants, n563224
Mean age, years36.33735.5
Female, %58.959.458.3
Role
Doctor, n (%)21 (37.5)16 (50.0)9 (37.5)
Nurse, n (%)23 (41.1)12 (37.5)10 (41.7)
Allied health professional, n (%)12 (21.4)4 (12.5)5 (20.8)
FFP3 mask type
3M 1863, n (%)36 (64.3)21 (65.6)15 (62.5)
Medline cone mask, n (%)20 (35.7)11 (34.4)9 (37.5)
Sensitivity to denatonium benzoatea
Normal, 1–10 puffs, n (%)51 (91.2)28 (87.5)23 (95.8)
Low, 11–20 puffs, n (%)4 (7.1)3 (9.4)1 (4.2)
Minimal, >20 puffs, n (%)1 (1.7)1 (3.1)0 (0)
  • aSensitivity to 0.02% denatonium benzoate by perceiving its taste without wearing a mask.