How Should the OB/GYN Doctor Dress for the Office?
Abstract & Commentary
By Frank W. Ling, MD
Synopsis: Physicians should dress according to personal preference because patients' perceptions of physician competence and professionalism is not affected by physician attire.
Source: Fischer RL, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Feb 2007:186.
These New Jersey authors hypothesized that attire and patient satisfaction would be unrelated. For 3 months, full-time faculty, both generalists and subspecialists, were randomly assigned to different attire, ie, business attire, casual clothing, or scrubs. The 3 attires had very specific definitions, and the randomization and compliance issues were very strict. The study included 1116 patients who had a visit of at least 10 minutes with a new obstetrician/gynecologist. The patients could not have had previous participation in the study. Immediately after the encounter, they were given an anonymous 1-page questionnaire by office staff. None of the questions made any reference to the attire of the physician.
The results of the survey were essentially identical for the 3 groups. When asked about their personal attire preference, the 8 attendings identified casual dress, 7 preferred business attire, and 5 preferred scrubs. The patient ratings of the physician did not differ according to physician preference of attire.
Commentary
So how do you dress when you go to the office? For that matter, do you even think about it? I know that historically, some residencies insist on their trainees not wearing scrubs to the office/clinic. Even some private practices that I know mandate that physicians wear white coats without fail, going so far as to have physicians wear someone else's coat with the other person's name on it in order to comply with practice policy. Good idea or bad idea? I guess it depends on what you're trying to accomplish.
If the goal is to have a certain "look" in the office, that's one thing. If there is the perception that the patients will see the physician as more professional or competent, this study should create some second guessing. It's reassuring that interpersonal skills, medical knowledge, and personal demeanor are more important than the clothes you wear. Even though the study was done in New Jersey, is there any reason to doubt that the findings are generalizeable to your practice?
If you spend a lot of time worrying about what you're wearing to the office, and you think it matters to your patients, perhaps the new theme for you ought to be "Don't worry, be happy!" Wear whatever makes you feel most professional and competent (and comfortable).
P.S. For the specific definitions of each of the attires, check out the article itself. Otherwise, you'll just have to imagine what the various definitions include.
These New Jersey authors hypothesized that attire and patient satisfaction would be unrelated. For 3 months, full-time faculty, both generalists and subspecialists, were randomly assigned to different attire, ie, business attire, casual clothing, or scrubs.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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