Providing compassionate care while wearing a face mask

By Dr. Seleem R. Choudhury

Interpreting facial cues is a central component of effective communication. In his 1865 book, Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin argued that our brains are able to extract a tremendous amount of subtle detail from just a glance. Our fascination with the face begins at birth, and as adults we remember faces better than any other object (Darwin & Prodger, 1998).

In the healthcare field, clinicians use facial expressions as a part of good therapeutic communication to show empathy, create understanding, and alleviate anxiety (Kujala, Somppi, Jokela, Vainio, & Parkkonen, 2017). But in a time where face masks are the requirement for clinicians and patients alike, our reliance on facial cues to communicate well can be a hindrance.