Related Experiment Videos
Patients' and physicians' attitudes regarding the physician's professional appearance
Archives of Internal Medicine
|July 1, 1987
Summary
Physician attire significantly impacts patient-physician communication. Traditional professional dress and identifying items like white coats are favored, while casual wear and trendy fashion are viewed negatively by both patients and physicians.
Area of Science:
- Medical sociology
- Professional communication
- Healthcare aesthetics
Background:
- Physician appearance has historical significance but lacks objective patient/physician attitude data.
- Understanding perceptions of professional attire is crucial for effective physician-patient interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively investigate patient and physician attitudes toward various aspects of male and female physician professional appearance.
- To identify specific attire elements that positively or negatively influence perceptions of physicians.
Main Methods:
- Survey analysis of 404 participants (patients, residents, staff physicians).
- Assessment of attitudes toward traditional, casual, and fashionable physician attire.
- Comparison of patient versus physician discrimination in rating appearance.
Main Results:
- Traditional attire (dresses, shirts/ties, white coats, name tags) received positive responses.
- Casual wear (jeans, scrubs, athletic shoes) and trendy items (long hair on men, earrings) received negative ratings.
- Patients were less critical of physician appearance than physicians were.
Conclusions:
- Physician appearance is a significant factor in physician-patient communication.
- Adherence to traditional professional dress and physician-identifying items enhances positive perceptions.
- Discrepancies in patient and physician attitudes highlight the need for awareness in professional presentation.