Abstract
Although increasingly disputed, the white coat uniform is ubiquitous in geriatric care, which may reflect a phenomenon called medicalisation of ageing. This narrative review is the first attempt at integrating several theoretical approaches, such as the “white coat effect” and “enclothed cognition”, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the use of this clothing item. Based on extensive empirical evidence, we will examine the consequences of wearing a uniform, not only on patients (in this case, older patients) and healthcare professionals, but also on their relationship. The white coat has powerful symbolic functions for healthcare professionals and is still preferred by older adults. However, the negative repercussions of wearing a uniform require us to question its use, particularly in environments where older persons live, such as nursing homes.
Highlights
Increasing life expectancy in industrial society is reflected in the growing number of older people
It is currently proposed that the white coat and/or the medical environment, following classical conditioning, act as conditioned stimuli and give rise to a conditioned anxiety response, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure (Ogedegbe et al, 2008)
The increasingly controversial white coat is ubiquitous in geriatric care
Summary
Increasing life expectancy in industrial society is reflected in the growing number of older people. Through a conditioning effect or a threat of diagnosis, the white coat and the medical environment, associated with the concept of «disease», are likely to impair the health of an older person, pertaining to their blood pressure or memory capacity. This phenomenon highlights the deleterious impact that a physical and social environment dominated by healthcare can have on older individuals. By erasing the ambient medicalisation and medical dominance, we could observe a humanisation of care and relationships, allowing for the existence of the social body beyond the biological one
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