Best practices for communication while wearing facemasks: A scoping review.
Clarissa A Shaw, Kyu Ri Lee, Alexander Williams and 4 others
PMID 37937861WHAT IT FOUND
Surgical masks appeared to have the least effect on comprehension, transparent masks may help people with hearing loss, and low-risk strategies like clear speech, quiet rooms, visual aids and checking understanding are recommended, but evidence is limited.
Key findings
01Patients randomly assigned to surgeons wearing transparent masks rated the interaction as better understood and more trusting.
02Surgical masks appeared to have the least effect on listener comprehension among mask types, excluding transparent masks.
03For adults without hearing impairment, comprehension was greatest when speakers used clear speech rather than casual or positive-emotional speech.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most recommendations came from non-research articles or expert opinion, so they are practical suggestions rather than proven interventions. Transparent mask results were mixed: some studies reported benefits, while others reported sound degradation or fogging. The included studies had different designs, settings and participants, so the findings may not apply to every patient group. The review focused on communication practices, not on whether these strategies improve health outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The article is listed as supported by NIH extramural research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these practices as proven treatments. The review found limited evidence, and many recommendations come from expert opinion rather than controlled testing.