title: Evidence for preferences of Italian patients for physician attire.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The relationship between patient and physician is a complex interaction that includes multiple factors. The objective of this study was to explore Italian patients' preferences regarding physician appearance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed to survey patients in different medical and surgical settings; each subject was asked to choose one picture of either a male or female physician from a selection of different attires (professional, casual, surgical scrubs, trendy, and careless). Patients were also surveyed about issues such as the presence of a name tag, hair length, trousers on women, amount of makeup, presence of tattoos, and body piercing. Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 765 questionnaires (534 completed from patients waiting for an internal medicine visit and 231 for other subspecialties) were completed. The majority (45%) of patients preferred the gastroenterologist to wear a surgical scrub with a white coat. For the other specialists, patients accepted either scrubs or formal dress under a white coat (P ≤ 0.05), with a name tag. Trendy attire was preferred by nine patients (1.1%). The entire sample judged it inappropriate for clinicians to have long hair, visible tattoos, body piercing, and, for women, to wear trousers and use excessive makeup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study conducted in Italy regarding physician attire. As in other Western countries, Italian patients favor physicians in professional attire with a white coat. Wearing professional dress is part of "etiquette based medicine" and may favorably influence clinician-patient relationships and patient compliance.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sotgiu
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nieddu
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pirina
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Porcu
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Madeddu
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Idini
authors.forename: Maddalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delitala
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.forename: Maria Pina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dore