According to a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology, a majority of patients preferred their dermatologists to be dressed in professional attire in most clinical settings.
Joshua Fox, MD, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and colleagues administered cross-sectional anonymous surveys to English-speaking dermatology patients (aged 18 years or older) in the medical, surgical, and wound care settings. Eligible participants were asked to identify their preference when shown images of physicians in business, professional, surgical, and casual attire.
The surveys revealed that most patients preferred professional attire in all clinic settings, although patients in the surgical setting were less likely to prefer professional attire when compared with patients in the medical clinic setting. Further, patients in the wound care and medical clinic settings preferred professional attire comparably.
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Choice of attire in the clinical setting may therefore influence a patient’s perception of his or her physician and consequently may have an effect on patient outcomes.
Reference
Fox JD, Prado G, Baquerizo Nole KL, et al. Patient preference in dermatologist attire in the medical, surgical, and wound care setting. JAMA Dermatol. 2016;152(8):913-919.
