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Volume 64, Number 5, September 2012 |
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Optimal Physicians’ Attire: Patients’ and Physician s’ Preference
Suwannee Suraseranivongse, M.D.,Kaittiyos Kuldejchaichan, M.Ed.,Arunee Leesirichaikul, BA, LLB, Barrister-at-Law Department of Anesthesiology, Postgraduate Education Division, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok10700, Thailand. Abstract
Background: The use of a white coat has been less popular in some countries due to the spread of healthcare-associated infection and changing doctor-patient relationship towards provider-patient relationship.
Keywords: Attire, physician, patient, preference INTRODUCTION A doctor’s attire has long been considered as an important role in establishing a good first impression for patients.1,2 By the beginning of 20th century, the use of white coat had spread to most physicians. The white coat was firmly accepted as the “doctor’s uniform”3 as it improved the appearance of the doctor and presented him or her as more professional, scientific, hygienic and easily identifiable.4,5 In 2007, the British Government issued a new policy supporting a “bare below the elbows” dress code to prevent the spread of healthcare-associated infection. This guidance includes measures such as the use of short sleeves, no wristwatches or jewelry, and avoidance of tie and white coat.6 Nevertheless there is no strong evidence to support that this policy can clinically minimize cross-infection.7,8 Currently, the doctor-patient relationship has been changing from medical paternalism towards provider-patient relationship and patient-centered medicine. Studies from New Zealand and Hawaii found that patients preferred physicians in less formal attire rather than a white coat.9 On the contrary, in a recent study from 2,272 Japanese outpatients, most respondents still preferred the white coat.10 The preferred style of physician attire may depend on several factors such as setting of practice, work culture of the institution, perception of healthcare-associated infection, public perception11 and age difference12. Though Thailand has an Eastern culture similar to Japan, the hot and humid climate and presence of more female physicians may influence attire preference. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify optimal physicians’ attire based on patients and physicians’ preference. Furthermore, the details of attire such as clothes, footwear, hair style and accessories were also identified. RESULTS The responses comprised of 309 patients (88.3%), 50 faculties (50%) and 73 residents (73%). Table 1 showed sex and age groups of patients and physicians. Physicians were divided into faculties and residents. A majority of patients and residents were female. Patients’ age groupings were similar between younger age group (18-40 year old) and older age group (>40 year old), but the majority of physicians’ ages from both faculties and residents, were in the younger age group. Regarding habitat of patients, fifty-one percent lived in the capital city. Proper dressings, footwear, hair styles and accessories were rated by at least 75% of patients and physicians and also assigned ranking as in Figure 1,2,3. The top ranking of dressing included the residents’ uniform (white, short sleeved shirt with name tag), short or long sleeved shirt, name tag for both genders, trousers, belts, patterned tie or no tie (for males), skirts and blouses with conventional style and color or trousers for females. The top ranking of footwear included closed shoes, black or white athletic shoes for both genders in emergency situations and smart sandals for females. Regarding hair style and accessories, top ranking included short hair-cut for male; short hair-cut or long hair with tied back, light make up, with no long earrings for female and no bright colorful hair for both genders. The proportion of patients and physicians (faculties and residents) who agreed with each item of formal, semi-formal and casual attire were subsequently shown in Table 2,3,4. A majority of patients and physicians selected formal attire except that suit was not proper, and neck tie was not compulsory. Ninety percent of patients favored white coat whereas 67% of physicians did. Regarding semi-formal attire, shirt without neck tie in male and trousers in female were rated proper. Physicians favored long hair more than patients. Short or mini skirt, skirt with colorful and too modern style were not accepted. Thirty percent of patients and faculties’ accepted wearing of T-shirt or sleeveless top covered with white coat whereas 67% of residents preferred otherwise. Finally, most items of casual attire were not considered proper, except athletic shoes for both genders in emergency situations and conventional colors and styles of sandals for female. DISCUSSION In our study, the preferred attires of Thai patients and physicians were mostly formal except suit. White coat was one of the more favored attires from the patients’ point of view. Some semi-formal attires, such as shirt without neck tie in males, trousers in females and athletic shoes for both genders in emergency situation (including a casual items such as smart sandals for females) were accepted by patients and physicians. Based on our culture, patients overwhelmingly favored professional attire with white coat for physicians similar to a Japanese study.10 Our findings indicated long sleeved shirt, trousers, neck tie, white coat and closed shoes for males and skirt, conventional blouse, white coat and closed shoes for females as in Western culture.14,15 The results also demonstrated optimal attires which were modified with climate, work culture, setting of practice and public perception. Residents’ uniform and short sleeved shirt without neck tie did support a British policy of “bare below the elbow” dress code to prevent transmission of hospital-acquired infection via white coat, tie, wristwatches and jewelry. Recent studies from United Kingdom recommended surgical scrubs for in-patient situation and formal attire during out-patient encounters.16,17 Athletic shoes and female trousers were not accepted as professional attire by physicians in our country and even in Western countries before 1990.13 Now, public perception has changed and these attires have been considered optimum especially in emergency and critical settings. Our findings indicated respondents’ negative viewpoint about most items of casual attires. These were similar to studies from several countries such as New Zealand9, Japan10, United Kingdom13 and United States.14 However, it was remarkable that residents preferred casual dress such as T-shirt or non-sleeved top covered with white coat than faculties and patients. This might predict a changing trend of doctors’ attire in the future to be more casual. There were some limitations in this study. First, we conducted this study in a single university hospital, in the capital city, which is an urban area. It might not represent the preference of patients and physicians in rural areas and other regions of the country. Second, physicians in this study were faculties and residents in a public hospital, and their opinions might be different from service staff or staff in private practice. Third, the result might be different in different age groups, for example, teenagers may like jeans more than the elderly. Finally, our questionnaires were text description based, not photographs, and thus the meaning of some attires in responder’s imagination might not be similar. Further studies are recommended in multicenter hospitals in all regions of the country and among various socioeconomic patients. CONCLUSION In conclusion, formal attires were preferred by both patients and physicians. Patients favored white coat more than physicians. However, some semi-formal attires are increasing in popularity. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors wish to thank the Siriraj Medical Education Development Fund for financial support. References
1. Short D. First impression. Br J Hosp Med. 1993 Sep 1-14;50(5):270-1. |
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