Perceptions of the White Coat: Generational, Regional, and Gender Differences Among Surgeons
View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Surgeon attire perceptions vary by generation, region, and gender, with differences noted in white coat usage. This national survey highlights trends in surgical professional dress and its cultural influences.
Area Of Science
- Medical Education
- Surgical Practice
- Professionalism in Medicine
Background
- Limited research exists on physician perceptions of workplace attire.
- Previous studies focused on patient views of physician dress.
- Understanding surgeon perspectives on attire is crucial for professional identity.
Purpose Of The Study
- To assess current trends in surgeon attire preferences.
- To explore perceptions of the white coat among surgeons.
- To identify factors influencing surgical attire choices.
Main Methods
- A national, population-based survey was conducted.
- Online questionnaires were distributed via email and X (formerly Twitter).
- Participants reported on white coat perception and attire preferences.
Main Results
- Surgeons in the Midwest were more likely to wear white coats daily.
- Late-career surgeons and women surgeons showed distinct patterns in white coat use.
- Gender influenced perceptions of the white coat's role in distinguishing roles.
Conclusions
- Surgeon perceptions of the white coat exhibit generational, regional, and gender-based variations.
- Professional attire norms in surgery are influenced by multiple demographic factors.
- These findings underscore the evolving landscape of surgical professional identity.
Related Concept Videos
The barriers to effective communication also include cultural barriers, semantic barriers, gender barriers, and time constraints.
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
According to obedience research, we may harm others under the forceful pressures of an authority figure (Milgram, 1974). How about if the inappropriate orders were delivered with less force? The increasing interdependence between nurses and physicians compelled Hofling and his colleagues to explore nurses’ reactions to a potentially harmful medical request made by the perceived authority figure, the doctor (Hofling, Brotzman, Dalrymple, Graves, & Pierce, 1966). In this situation,...
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
Psychosurgery, the surgical alteration or permanent removal of brain tissue to alleviate severe psychological conditions, stands as one of the most radical and controversial treatments in the history of mental health care. Its development and application have evolved significantly, marked by dramatic shifts in scientific understanding and ethical perspectives.
Historical Development of Psychosurgery
In the 1930s, Portuguese neurologist Antonio Egas Moniz introduced a surgical procedure designed...
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
Social proof is a form of persuasion based on comparison and conformity. People compare their behavior and actions to what others are doing and will change to conform to do what their peers do.
A good example of social proof is from laugh tracks on television shows. Fullery & Skeffington (1974) found that adding group laughter sounds to material increased how humorous the participants perceived that material, regardless of whether the content itself was funny or not. By adding a laugh...

