The use of face masks has assumed a leading spot among nonspecific prevention measures during the coronavirus pandemic. The effectiveness of this protective measure depends on the specifics of individual use. The purpose of our study was to analyze the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The evaluation of face mask use was based on the results of a survey of medical students at Sechenov University. There were 988 participants in the study: 97.5% used RPE during the pandemic, 89.1% used disposable medical and hygienic face masks, 27.4% used reusable cloth face masks, and 13.2% used respirators. The majority of respondents (75.2%) were found to wear face masks correctly. However, 17.0% of the respondents were found to cover only their mouths with a face mask, while 7.8% reported often shifting their face mask under the chin due to perceived discomfort. Only 25.1% of respondents changed their disposable face mask after 2-3 h of wearing, while 13.0% decontaminated and used it several times. Most cloth face mask users (93.7%) decontaminated their marks, but only 55.7% of respondents did so daily. Face masks were most often worn in medical organizations (91.5%), and 1.4% of respondents did not use respiratory protection anywhere. In conclusion, we consider it necessary to introduce a special module on nonspecific prevention in the discipline of hygiene.

Self-isolation is a preventive measure that started in January 2020 as a response to the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19 infection, and it has no precedents in human history. During this pandemic, governments forced billions of people to self-isolate for several months, and the sanitary-hygienic assessment of self-isolation became an essential issue. A sanitary-hygienic definition of self-isolation was proposed and also, methods for assessing it were developed. Hygienic Self-Isolation Index Point Score (HSIPS) determines that the optimal isolation is directly proportional to the coefficients of a person's physical activity, indoor area per isolated person, and time spent in the fresh air. HSIPS can identify if isolation is optimal, favorable, or unfavorable. Furthermore, methods to assess the level of the functional reserves of the body were determined, and also the leading health risk factors of the self-isolated population were identified. The sanitary-hygienic assessment of self-isolation can ensure the prevention of cardiovascular, alimentary-dependent diseases, and pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Besides, self-isolation accompanies a decrease in physical activity and unbalanced nutrition.

Billions of people had to face self-isolation for several months due to COVID-19 pandemic; given that, it seems quite vital to provide theoretical grounds for sanitary-hygienic health risk assessment. Our research objects were people who had to self-isolate during CIVID-19 pandemic. In our research we provided theoretical substantiation for priority health risk factors determined by hypodynamia, hypoxia, improper nutrition, distorted work and leisure regime, and psychoemotional strain. These factors can result in growing morbidity with non-communicable diseases among population. Our research goal was to give theoretical grounds for sanitary-hygienic assessment of health risk factors caused by self-isolation, to reveal priority health risk factors causing morbidity with non-communicable diseases, and to give recommendations on how to prevent it. We applied analytical, information, and statistical procedures in our research. Data were obtained from regulatory and legal documents on sanitary-hygienic standardization in the Russian Federation, specifically, data on nutrition hygiene, occupational hygiene, children and teenagers hygiene, etc.; we also revised scientific works published by Russian and foreign authors and analyzed documents issued by the World Health Organization as well as by public healthcare authorities in different countries during COVID-19 pandemic. When developing theoretical grounds for sanitary-hygienic assessment of health risk factors causing morbidity with non-communicable diseases due to self-isolation, we determined priority risk factors and suggested certain hygienic criteria for assessing self-isolation. We provided theoretical substantiation for a suggested hygienic self-isolation index and its score estimate. The existing system for sanitary-hygienic standardization in the RF fixes requirements for nutrition, work, and leisure regime as well as people’s physical activity; it was applied for performing hygienic assessment of self-isolation and self-isolation index score estimates. We suggested certain activities aimed at minimizing health risks under self-isolation; these activities were based on sanitary-hygienic standards. Since hypodynamia and hypoxia are primary sanitary-hygienic health risk factors, we suggest sticking to adequate nutrition with optimal energy capacity, proper physical activity, as well as proper work and leisure regimes.

(1) Background: The use of face masks and gloves in public places directly shows the commitment of the population to the established regulations. Public transport is one of the most-at-risk places of contamination. The aim of the study was to analyze the face mask use by public transport passengers and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Public transport passengers and workers were surveyed. Periodic intermittent selective observation was used to gauge the level of adherence to the established regulations among public transport passengers. Factor analysis was used to identify factors determining the face-mask-wearing comfort. (3) Results: The majority of passengers (87.5%) and all transport workers (100%) used face masks and gloves. Most of the users wore only face masks. Only 41.6% of passengers and 74.7% of transport workers wore face masks correctly. Motivational attitudes at the implementation of preventive measures were determined: established regulations in the public place (55.8%) and the protection of one’s own health and the health of family members (44.2%). Only 22.5% of those wearing face masks believed that doing so will have any effect on the spread of an infectious disease, and 10.8% wore masks to maintain the health of people around themselves. A low level of social responsibility was demonstrated. For 53.4% of workers, face mask wearing was uncomfortable. The majority of workers had adverse reactions to mask wearing: feeling short of breath (52.8%), hyperemia of face skin (33.8%), and facial hyperhidrosis (67.4%). (4) Conclusions: The comfort of wearing a mask is determined by adverse reactions occurrence, the properties of the mask, working conditions, and the duration of wearing the face mask. It is necessary to develop recommendations to reduce wearing discomfort. These recommendations, along with methods of raising the social responsibility of the population, can contribute to a greater commitment of the population to non-specific prevention measures.

The article presents the results of the evaluation of the most significant risk factors related to lifestyle and health of medical students of different courses andfaculties. The obtained data testify that out of the total number of factors that have a significant influence on the formation of bases of student's healthy lifestyle and health, the most typical are the mode of employment, the total workload, material well-being, living conditions of the majority of today's students, as well as the conditions of nutrition, physical activity, the presence or absence of such factors as smoking, frequency of consumption of alcoholic beverages.