Abstract
Objective: To investigate the influence of the GP’s attire on the confidence that patients have in their GP as a medical expert and on the patient’s comfort level (defined as ‘feel at ease’). Design: A cross-section study without control group. Methods: Participants (n=1506 ) completed a survey on the internet or in paper after seeing images of six models of three different age categories, each in five different clothing styles (leisure clothing, casual, semiformal, formal and professional). The following questions were asked for each model: “In which doctor do you have the most confidence as a medical expert?” and “With which doctor do you feel most at ease?”. Results: Patients trusted a female doctor and the older male doctor most when wearing professional clothing (white coat). The young and middle aged GP’s were preferred to wear semiformal attire. Patients were most at ease with a female GP wearing leisure clothing. They preferred the young and middle aged male GP to wear semiformal attire, while patients were most at ease with the older male GP wearing casual clothing. Conclusion: The GP’s attire has an influence on the patient’s confidence and comfort level. In general patients still mainly prefer a doctor in a professional outfit.
Highlights
The clothing style of each professional has an important impact on presentation, credibility and appearance
Results showed that there are clear differences between clothing styles regarding the ‘feel at ease’ of patients and the confidence they have in the medical expertise of their General Practitioner (GP)
This study showed a clear influence of the GP’s attire on the patient’s confidence in the GP as a medical expert and on the patient’s comfort level
Summary
The clothing style of each professional has an important impact on presentation, credibility and appearance. Formal health care providers who are not wearing professional gear, have to guard and defend their professional attitude. General practitioners opted many years ago to abandon their white coats. A general practitioner is for many patients the counselor and trusted person par excellence. Patients expect a GP to prove scientific medical knowledge and skills, as well as to perform with a listening ear and moral support. A good doctor-patient relationship is a basic requirement for good care provision. The way a GP dresses will have a significant influence on the development of the physician-patient relationship [1,2,3]
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