Wearing masks has become necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the consequences of wearing a mask on communication between patients and surgeons have not been studied. This study aims to analyze the impact of wearing clear or standard covered masks on communication during surgical clinic encounters.
This randomized clinical trial included a total of 200 patients from 15 surgeons’ clinics spanning 7 subspecialties. The surgeons wore either clear masks or covered masks for each clinic visit with a new patient. The primary outcomes of the study were patient perceptions of surgeon communication and trust in surgeons, along with quantitative and qualitative assessments.
The findings suggested that when surgeons wore a clear mask, they received a higher rating from patients for providing an understandable explanation, demonstrating empathy, and building trust, when compared with surgeons who wore a covered mask. It was also found that patients preferred clear masks because of improved surgeon communication and appreciation for visualization on their face. However, eight out of 15 surgeons were not willing to choose a clear mask over a standard covered mask.
The research concluded that patients preferred clear masks over covered masks for communicating with surgeons; however, surgeons preferred covered masks.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2777511?resultClick=1
