It may seem superficial, but physicians' attire has a measurable effect on patient perception of their knowledge, caring, professionalism and trustworthiness, according to a study published in BMJ Open.
For the study, researchers at the University of Michigan Health System conducted a comprehensive international review of 30 studies on the topic of physician dress involving 11,533 adult patients in 14 countries. Out of the 30 studies reviewed, 21 found that patients held clear preferences about what their doctors should wear--18 of which indicated that physicians should err on the side of formality to impress patients.
However, patient preferences were not universal, and varied greatly across setting type and by patient demographic, the authors noted. In emergency and surgical settings, for example, physician fashion was less of a factor, with some patients indicating they preferred to see doctors wearing scrubs. In contrast, older patients and those in Europe and Asia tended to favor physicians in formal attire and white coats.
Thus, senior author Vineet Chopra, M.D., said in a study announcement: "In order to better tailor physician attire to patient preferences and improve available evidence, we would recommend that healthcare systems capture the 'voice of the customer' in individual care locations, such as intensive care units and emergency departments."
In an effort to further understand how patients' views of physicians changed based on clothing, the team will soon launch its own international study of the impact of physician clothing choices, entitled "Targeting Attire to Improve Likelihood of Rapport" or TAILOR.
Thus far, formal guidelines for how physicians should dress are rare across institutions, as is guidance on the subject at the medical school level, the authors noted. However, infection control experts are increasingly recommending that physicians avoid wearing items that more easily transmit germs, such as jewelry, watches and long sleeves, FierceHealthcare reported.
To learn more:
- read the announcement
- here's the abstract