Effective communication between nursing professionals and patients after the implementation of mask-wearing requirements in the clinical setting: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to evaluate staff nurses' perspectives on the use of face masks in effective communication and relationship management skills with patients in the hospital setting. The study surveyed registered nurses (RNs) who work with adult patients in different hospital units. An online survey was completed by RNs who were selected by convenience sampling. RNs' communication with patients was perceived as moderately affected by the use of face masks. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing communication with years of professional experience. Participants who had over 10 years of experience reported having greater difficulty in their communication with patients when using face masks. The effect of provider-patient relationship on effective nurse-patient face-mask communication was statistically significant and negative. This study shows that some participants found face masks used in the clinical setting may affect nurse-patient communication, as well as the nurses' ability to manage their relationships with patients. The findings of this study support the need for targeted research into effective communication strategies when face mask use is needed in the healthcare setting.

Automated summary

This study surveyed registered nurses to evaluate their perspectives on the use of face masks in effective communication and relationship management skills with patients. The results showed that face masks moderately affected nurses' communication with patients, especially for those with more than 10 years of experience. The study also found a significant negative effect of provider-patient relationship on nurse-patient face-mask communication. These findings highlight the need for targeted research into effective communication strategies when face mask use is needed in healthcare settings.