Evidence-based physicians' dressing: a crossover trial.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the effect of physicians' dress on patient confidence and trust.


METHODS
A prospective crossover trial involving physicians dressed in "respectable" versus "retro" attire.


METHODS
A general medicine ward at a tertiary hospital.


METHODS
12 male general physicians and 1680 patients.


METHODS
Patient trust and confidence as measured by a questionnaire mailed after hospital discharge.


RESULTS
Formal attire was correlated with higher patient confidence and trust. Nose rings were particularly deleterious to patients' reported trust and confidence. A minimum threshold of two items of formal attire (dress pants, dress shirt, tie, or white coat) were necessary to inspire a reasonable amount of confidence; this is the NND (number needed to dress).


CONCLUSIONS
We highlight the need for more research into the effects of physician dress, and coin the term "evidence-based dressing".
Nair
Balakrishnan R
BR
Department of Geriatric Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Hunter Region Mail Centre, NSW. knair@mail.newcastle.edu.au
Attia
John R
JR
Mears
Stephen R
SR
Hitchcock
Karen I
KI
D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic