title: Patients' attitudes toward the attire of male physicians: a single-center study in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The doctor-patient relationship has been influenced by the appearance of physicians, and there is an association between a physician's physical appearance and the patients' initial perceptions of physician competence. This study aims to explore patients' preferences toward the attire of a male physician, and to examine if a physician's choice of uniform influences the degree of trust, confidence, and follow-up care among respondents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey conducted among patients of the Alwazarat family medicine center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 300 patients (50% were male and 83.6% had received a secondary education; the mean age was 33.4 [10.1] years) in the Alwazarat family medicine center in Riyadh. The questionnaire was also customized for the local setting with the inclusion of photos of a male doctor in Saudi Arabian national costume, and 3 other dress styles (Western dress with white coat, scrubs with white coat, and scrubs only).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, across all questions regarding physician dress style preferences, participants significantly preferred Western dress (39.9%, P < .001), followed by Saudi national dress (26.3%), a scrub suit with a white coat (22.3%), and scrubs only (11.5%). Respondents reported that they were more likely to follow medical advice and would return for follow-up care if a physician wore Western dress. They were significantly more willing to share their social, sexual, and psychological problems with a physician wearing Saudi national dress (P < .001). The importance of a physician's appearance was ranked significantly higher by older patients (P=.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Respondents were more likely to favor a physician wearing Western attire with a white coat. However, Saudi national dress, followed by Western dress, is the preferred attire when physicians are dealing with social, sexual, and psychological problems.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Mohammed Ali Batais, Family and Community Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 29391, Saudi Arabia, M: +966554666634, drmohammed34@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Batais
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001290:Attitude; D003020:Clothing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D057240:Patient Preference; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust; D055815:Young Adult
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