Patient and Health Care Worker Perceptions of Communication and Ability to Identify Emotion When Wearing Standard and Transparent Masks

Jacqueline N Chu; Joy E Collins; Tina T Chen; Peter R Chai; Farah Dadabhoy; James D Byrne; Adam Wentworth; Ian A DeAndrea-Lazarus; Christopher J Moreland; Jaime A B Wilson; Alicia Booth; Omkar Ghenand; Chin Hur; Giovanni Traverso

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.35386

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Patient and Health Care Worker Perceptions of Communication and Ability to Identify Emotion When Wearing Standard and Transparent Masks

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Patient and Health Care Worker Perceptions of Communication and Ability to Identify Emotion When Wearing Standard and Transparent Masks

Jacqueline N Chu, Joy E Collins, Tina T Chen, Peter R Chai, Farah Dadabhoy, James D Byrne, Adam Wentworth, Ian A DeAndrea-Lazarus, Christopher J Moreland, Jaime A B Wilson, …

JAMA network open, Vol.4(11), pp.e2135386-e2135386

11/01/2021

DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.35386

PMCID: PMC8609412

PMID: 34807257

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Abstract

Adoption of mask wearing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic alters daily communication. To assess communication barriers associated with mask wearing in patient-clinician interactions and individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. This pilot cross-sectional survey study included the general population, health care workers, and health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing in the United States. Volunteers were sampled via an opt-in survey panel and nonrandomized convenience sampling. The general population survey was conducted between January 5 and January 8, 2021. The health care worker surveys were conducted between December 3, 2020, and January 3, 2021. Respondents viewed 2 short videos of a study author wearing both a standard and transparent N95 mask and answered questions regarding mask use, communication, preference, and fit. Surveys took 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Participants' perceptions were assessed surrounding the use of both mask types related to communication and the ability to express emotions. The national survey consisted of 1000 participants (mean [SD] age, 48.7 [18.5] years; 496 [49.6%] women) with a response rate of 92.25%. The survey of general health care workers consisted of 123 participants (mean [SD] age, 49.5 [9.0] years; 84 [68.3%] women), with a response rate of 11.14%. The survey of health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing consisted of 45 participants (mean [SD] age, 54.5 [9.0] years; 30 [66.7%] women) with a response rate of 23.95%. After viewing a video demonstrating a study author wearing a transparent N95 mask, 781 (78.1%) in the general population, 109 general health care workers (88.6%), and 38 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (84.4%) were able to identify the emotion being expressed, in contrast with 201 (20.1%), 25 (20.5%), and 11 (24.4%) for the standard opaque N95 mask. In the general population, 450 (45.0%) felt positively about interacting with a health care worker wearing a transparent mask; 76 general health care workers (61.8%) and 37 health care workers who are deaf or hard of hearing (82.2%) felt positively about wearing a transparent mask to communicate with patients. The findings of this study suggest that transparent masks could help improve communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Adult

Communication

Communication Barriers

COVID-19 - prevention & control

Cross-Sectional Studies

Female

Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data

Humans

Male

Masks - statistics & numerical data

Middle Aged

Professional-Patient Relations

United States

Young Adult

Details

Title: Subtitle: Patient and Health Care Worker Perceptions of Communication and Ability to Identify Emotion When Wearing Standard and Transparent Masks
Creators: Jacqueline N Chu - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joy E Collins - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Tina T Chen - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peter R Chai - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Farah Dadabhoy - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
James D Byrne - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Adam Wentworth - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ian A DeAndrea-Lazarus - University of Rochester
Christopher J Moreland - The University of Texas at Austin
Jaime A B Wilson - Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses, Miamisburg, Ohio.
Alicia Booth - Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Losses, Miamisburg, Ohio.
Omkar Ghenand - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Chin Hur - Columbia University
Giovanni Traverso - Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: JAMA network open, Vol.4(11), pp.e2135386-e2135386
DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.35386
PMID: 34807257
PMCID: PMC8609412
NLM abbreviation: JAMA Netw Open
ISSN: 2574-3805
eISSN: 2574-3805
Grant note: T32 DK007191 / NIDDK NIH HHS K23 DA044874 / NIDA NIH HHS R44 DA051106 / NIDA NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/01/2021
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiation Oncology
Record Identifier: 9984274857602771

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