Page 148 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2024

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Patients Care What Doctors Wear
story by Barbara Travis
Do patients care what their doctors wear? Research indicates they do. Physician attire can inadvertently influence patients’ healthcare satisfaction as they subconsciously react to what their doctors and other medical providers wear. This is especially true for children as they are more open to psychological
and emotional reactions when interacting with healthcare professionals.
Children love color, simplicity, and happy graphics. Adult patients universally accept scrubs and casual attire as standard in a hospital environment, yet most would prefer to see a doctor more formally and professionally dressed at a primary care office visit, perhaps even wearing the traditional white coat. It’s all about the medical setting and establishing doctor-patient relationship, caring, and trust.
COLOR OF THE SCRUBS
Even though scrubs are hospital standards, their color matters. Studies note that patients view green scrubs for surgeons
as the most favorable color identified with skill, knowledge, trustworthiness, and caring. Blue scrubs followed closely, while black scrubs received negative perceptions. Physicians may disregard or overlook the importance and impact of what they wear, but evidence points towards the role and importance of their personal presentation and attire.
WHITE COAT PERCEPTION
White coats denote authority and professionalism. Patients seem more likely to trust and have confidence in their physicians if they wear white coats and more openly share their challenges and problems with a professionally dressed physician. However, the white coat is now worn by medical professionals other
than doctors, so many doctors opt for business dress such as dress shirt and sport coat instead. Regardless of their choice
of attire, physicians should do whatever it takes to reflect their professionalism and devotion to their practice with a “white coat perception” of cleanliness and top-notch skill.
DAPPER DOCTORS
Patients have expectations, perceptions, and reactions to physicians’ dress. They apparently do care what doctors wear. It’s a fact that a doctor’s attention to professional dress code can improve patient satisfaction, so whatever a doctor can do to alleviate patient stress, tension, or fear is well worth the well- groomed effort. Besides, who doesn’t appreciate a healthcare professional who looks just as good as he or she does the job? Once again, it’s all about presenting a trustworthy image and putting the patient at the greatest ease possible.
148 | June 2024
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