Clear Surgical Masks Lead to Higher Patient Satisfaction

By ETHAN COVEY

“Therefore, it is important to identify mask technology that allows this

Surgeons who wear clear surgical visibility, while maintaining safety masks during patient encounters standards and providing a comfortreceive significantly higher marks for able mask-wearing experience.” communication and trustworthiness, Margaret L. (Gretchen) Schwarze, compared with colleagues who wear MD, an associate professor of surtraditional surgical masks, according gery at the University of Wisconsin–to a new study. Madison School of Medicine and

The report, which is the first study Public Health, who authored a corto evaluate differences in patients’ responding commentary, agreed. perceptions of surgeon communica- “We do a lot of things to try to tion based on their mask type, may improve patient care,” she said. “This have additional implications as the COVID-19 pandemic recasts the need for mask wearing during phyFigure. A standard covered mask (left) and a clear mask (right). study clearly shows that patients report much higher communication scores when the surgeon is wearing sician–patient interactions (JAMA Surg 2021 Mar 11. doi:10.1001/ Image Courtesy of JAMA Network® © 2021 American Medical Association a clear mask. This seems incredibly valuable for our patients, and somejamasurg.2021.0836). thing we should probably do to sup-

“With the changing health care land- and qualitative impressions regarding the port them in their surgical care.” scape due to the pandemic, masks have two mask options. However, surgeons themselves were less become an even more important aspect Across the board, patient rankings were positive in their reviews of clear masks. of surgeon PPE,” said Ian M. Kratz- more positive for surgeons who wore clear Only 47% indicated they were likely to ke, MD, a physician in the Department masks. choose clear masks for future patient of Surgery at the University of North Surgeons wearing clear masks were encounters. Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School rated higher for providing understandable In addition, since the COVID-19 panof Medicine, and lead author of the explanations (95% clear vs. 78% standard), demic has increased use of masks, patients study. “The findings speak to the impor- demonstrating empathy (99% vs. 85%) have grown more accustomed to them tance for surgeons and OR personnel to and building trust (94% vs. 72%). Over- being worn during all interactions. Dr. recognize the barriers that masks create all, patients preferred clear over standard Kratzke noted that while it is difficult to in effectively communicating and build- masks (100% to 72%), expressed greater estimate the long-term effect of the paning trust with patients.” excitement for clear masks, and had more demic on mask wearing, the study provides

A total of 200 patients were enrolled frequent complaints regarding interactions key information regarding ways health care in the study, recruited from 15 surgeons’ with doctors wearing standard masks. professionals may adapt mask usage to satclinics spanning seven surgical subspe- “This study demonstrates that patients isfy patients. “While the scope of this study cialties. Clinic visits were conducted at a prefer to see their surgeons’ faces,” said did not involve evaluating the situations single academic medical center, with the senior author of the study, Muneera R. that masks should be worn moving forpatients rating the surgeons on communi- Kapadia, MD, an associate professor of wards, masks have and will always serve a cation, trust, and a number of quantitative surgery at UNC School of Medicine. role in the health care setting,” he said. ■

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