Patient attitudes toward the use of surgical scrubs in a military hospital clinic.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether obstetrics and gynecology (ob/gyn) patients in a large military teaching hospital have a negative attitude toward the wearing of surgical scrubs by ob/gyn providers.


METHODS
A convenience sample questionnaire on patient preferences, including two questions relating independently to military and civilian staff attire, was offered to clinic patients over a 2 month period. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify patient groups less accepting of the surgical scrubs in clinics.


RESULTS
Over ninety-one percent of respondents viewed surgical scrubs with a white coat to be acceptable clinical attire for military or civilian providers. Eight percent preferred the more formal uniform or business dress. Non-white and Hispanic patients had higher rates of preference for more formal dress.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of ob/gyn patients surveyed did not view the use of surgical scrubs with a white coat negatively.
Lund
Jon D
JD
Department of Ob/Gyn, Naval Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA;
Rohrer
James E
JE
Goldfarb
Susana
S