Impact of the Surgical Mask on the Patient-nurse Relation in Primary Care

The use of the surgical mask has well‐known benefits for both the patient and the professional regarding the control of infection contamination. However, its use is left to individual criteria, and is passed on from generation to generation of nurses through experiential, intuitive knowledge. Studies are necessary to support the use of the surgical mask. Research indicates that wearing the mask affects perception of words, thus influencing patient‐nurse communication. However, it might also affect the very nurse‐‐patient relation. For example, it can convey the idea of personal distancing, which can either be appreciated by patients as dutiful professional care by the nurse, or viewed as a limit imposed on interpersonal communication and on the relationship. This study inspects patient satisfaction about (1) interpersonal aspects and (2) professionalism in the patient‐nurse relationship when the mask is used.