Behind the Mask: Emotion Recognition in Healthcare Students

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Stephen Nowicki Jr., Emory University; Marco Bani, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca; Selena Russo, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca; Stefano Ardenghi, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca; Giulia Rampoldi, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca; Virginia Wickline, Georgia Southern University–Armstrong Campus; Stephen Nowicki, Emory University; Maria Grazia Strepparava, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-08-01
• Publisher: Emory University Libraries
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © International Association of Medical Science Educators 2021
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01317-8
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Medical Science Educator
• Volume: 31
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 1273
• End Page: 1277
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported by the University of Milano-Bicocca [grant number: 2020-ATE-0171].
• Keywords: Facemask; Medical education; DANVA2; Emotion recognition; Doctor patient communication
• Research Categories: Psychology, General; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

Current widespread facemask usage profoundly impacts clinical practice and healthcare education where communicational dimensions are essential to the care and teaching processes. As part of a larger study, 208 medical and nursing students were randomly assigned to a masked vs unmasked version of the standardized facial emotion recognition task DANVA2. A significantly higher number of errors existed in the masked vs unmasked condition. Differences for happy, sad, and angry faces, but not for fearful faces, existed between conditions. Misinterpretation of facial emotions can severely affect doctor-patient and inter-professional communication in healthcare. Teaching communication in medical education must adapt to the current universal use of facemasks in professional settings.