Physician Attire Influences Patient and Family Perceptions of Care in the Palliative Care Unit in Japan

Physician attire influences perceptions of care. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of physician attire on perceptions of care by patients and families in a Japanese palliative care unit.

From November 2018 to February 2020, patients and family members admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at Jichi Medical University Hospital were recruited and completed a survey consisting of 4 demographic questions and 15 questions regarding perceptions of care. A 7-point Likert scale (1 = strongly agree, 4 = neutral, 7 = strongly disagree) was used to judge attire (name tag, long sleeve white coat, short sleeve white coat, scrubs, scrub color, jeans, sneakers) addressing patient and overall impact on perception of care.

Of 203 patients admitted, 79 were enrolled. Surveys were received from 23 patients and 52 family members. Patients and families want physicians to wear name tags (median, interquartile range) (2, 1-2) and white coats (3, 2-4). Patients want to be addressed by surnames (2, 1.5-4). Patients and family members have neutral opinions about short sleeve white coats (4, 4-4) and scrubs (4, 4-4). Jeans were not liked (4, 4-6) while sneakers are acceptable (3, 2-4). The impact of attire on perceptions of care is significantly (p = .04) greater for patients (3, 2-4) than family members (4, 3-4).

Patients and family members prefer their physicians to wear name tags and white coats and address patients by surnames. Physician attire has a significantly greater impact on perceptions of care for patients than family members in a palliative care unit.