Patients and general practitioners agree that wearing masks during consultations complicates physician--patient relationships: An exploratory, qualitative study.

Background: The physician--patient relationship plays a critical role in the quality of primary care management. The generalised wearing of surgical masks in enclosed spaces - common during the COVID-19 pandemic -- could change the communication between patients and healthcare professionals.

Objectives: To assess how general practitioners (GPs) and patients feel about wearing masks during a consultation and its influences on physician--patient relationship.