Patient attitudes to surgeons' attire in an outpatient clinic setting: substance over style.
BACKGROUND
It is believed that patients prefer that surgeons convey a professional appearance with traditional business attire and white laboratory coat. We performed a prospective study to assess patient opinions regarding traditional attire versus the wearing surgical scrubs in the outpatient setting.


METHODS
During a 5-month period, surgeons alternated wearing traditional clothing and surgical scrubs. Adult patients were given a questionnaire assessing their preferences regarding surgeons' clothing.


RESULTS
Six hundred twelve patients returned the questionnaire. The majority felt that scrubs were appropriate attire for physicians. Half of the patients felt that wearing white laboratory coats is necessary. A minority felt that their surgeon's dress affects their opinion regarding the care they received. There was no difference between responses regardless of the attire actually worn.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgeon's clothing choice does not significantly influence patient's opinion of the care they receive. Patients do not have strong preferences for white coats or more traditional surgical attire.
Edwards
Roy Dewayne
RD
William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Department of Surgery, El Paso, TX 79920, USA. roy.edwards@amedd.army.mil
Saladyga
Anne Teresa
AT
Schriver
John Paul
JP
Davis
Kurt Glenn
KG
D000328:Adult; D003020:Clothing / Q000523:psychology*; D013502:General Surgery; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010820:Physicians; D011446:Prospective Studies; D058257:Surgical Attire; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires