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What do Australian junior doctors think of white coats?
1Canberra Clinical School, The Canberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory, Woden, Australia. ashley.watson@act.gov.au
Objective:
To determine the attitudes of Australian junior doctors towards white coats.
Methods:
We carried out a multicentred mail survey in 13 Australian teaching hospitals. A total of 337 junior medical officers (JMOs) completed an eight-item questionnaire. The survey sought to establish JMOs' views and preferences regarding the wearing of white coats and the reasons behind them.
Results:
Very few Australian JMOs wear white coats. Many reasons for not wearing white coats were given, the most common being 'No one else wears a white coat' (70%). A total of 60% of JMOs are against wearing white coats; 24% are indifferent on the issue and only 16% expressed a general preference for white coats. Junior medical officers who did prefer white coats indicated reasons of convenience for carrying items, identification and/or professionalism, and hygiene and/or cleanliness.
Conclusions:
White coats have largely disappeared from Australian teaching hospitals and the majority of junior doctors in Australia oppose the wearing of white coats.