Should physicians have facial piercings?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess attitudes of patrons and medical school faculty about physicians with nontraditional facial piercings. We also examined whether a piercing affected the perceived competency and trustworthiness of physicians.


METHODS
Survey.


METHODS
Teaching hospital in the southeastern United States.


METHODS
Emergency department patrons and medical school faculty physicians.


METHODS
First, patrons were shown photographs of models with a nontraditional piercing and asked about the appropriateness for a physician or medical student. In the second phase, patrons blinded to the purpose of the study were shown identical photographs of physician models with or without piercings and asked about competency and trustworthiness. The third phase was an assessment of attitudes of faculty regarding piercings.


RESULTS
Nose and lip piercings were felt to be appropriate for a physician by 24% and 22% of patrons, respectively. Perceived competency and trustworthiness of models with these types of piercings were also negatively affected. An earring in a male was felt to be appropriate by 35% of patrons, but an earring on male models did not negatively affect perceived competency or trustworthiness. Nose and eyebrow piercings were felt to be appropriate by only 7% and 5% of faculty physicians and working with a physician or student with a nose or eyebrow piercing would bother 58% and 59% of faculty, respectively. An ear piercing in a male was felt to be appropriate by 20% of faculty, and 25% stated it would bother them to work with a male physician or student with an ear piercing.


CONCLUSIONS
Many patrons and physicians feel that some types of nontraditional piercings are inappropriate attire for physicians, and some piercings negatively affect perceived competency and trustworthiness. Health care providers should understand that attire may affect a patient's opinion about their abilities and possibly erode confidence in them as a clinician.
Newman
Alison W
AW
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
Wright
Seth W
SW
Wrenn
Keith D
KD
Bernard
Aline
A
D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000523:psychology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003469:Culture; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust