Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination
Background: The white coat is traditionally considered to be the appropriate attire for physicians but it may also be contaminated with microbes and act as a potential source of infection. We aimed to study patients’ acceptance of physicians’ attire, their underlying reasons, and their reactions to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2013-12-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Medical Students |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/216 |
| _version_ | 1827886321315610624 |
|---|---|
| author | Enoch C. T. So Faraday H. F. Fung Joshua K. H. Yeung Lilian H. Y. Chow Julio S. H. Kwok Ruby L. Y. Lam Tommy C. Y. So Faye S. M. Yu Dana Vackova Gilberto K. K. Leung |
| author_facet | Enoch C. T. So Faraday H. F. Fung Joshua K. H. Yeung Lilian H. Y. Chow Julio S. H. Kwok Ruby L. Y. Lam Tommy C. Y. So Faye S. M. Yu Dana Vackova Gilberto K. K. Leung |
| author_sort | Enoch C. T. So |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The white coat is traditionally considered to be the appropriate attire for physicians but it may also be contaminated with microbes and act as a potential source of infection. We aimed to study patients’ acceptance of physicians’ attire, their underlying reasons, and their reactions to an educational intervention with regards to the risks of contamination. Methods: We conducted a voluntary questionnaire survey at a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong from February to July 2012. 262 patient-responses from adult inpatients and outpatients across various specialties were analysed. Results: White coats were highly favoured (90.8%) when compared with scrubs (22.1%), smart casual (7.6%) and formal (7.3%) wears. ’Professional image’ and ‘ease of identification’ were the main attributes of the white coat. Most patients (92.2%) would prefer doctors washing their white coats every few days, whilst 80.9% believed that doctors were actually doing so. After patients were informed of the potential risk of microbial contamination, white coats remained as the most favoured attire (66.4%), but with scrubs doubling in popularity (45.8%). Smart casual (9.2%) and formal attire (4.6%) remain the least accepted. Conclusion: Despite cross-infections being a significant concern within the healthcare environments, patients’ predominant acceptance and perceived attributes towards the white coat were maintained after an educational intervention on the risks of microbial contamination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:00:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7181ff887a14430783eb46878262adf2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-6327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:00:52Z |
| publishDate | 2013-12-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Medical Students |
| spelling | doaj.art-7181ff887a14430783eb46878262adf22023-08-02T02:27:00ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Medical Students2076-63272013-12-011310911410.5195/ijms.2013.216216Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial ContaminationEnoch C. T. So0Faraday H. F. Fung1Joshua K. H. Yeung2Lilian H. Y. Chow3Julio S. H. Kwok4Ruby L. Y. Lam5Tommy C. Y. So6Faye S. M. Yu7Dana Vackova8Gilberto K. K. Leung9Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Centre of Education and Training, Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong.Background: The white coat is traditionally considered to be the appropriate attire for physicians but it may also be contaminated with microbes and act as a potential source of infection. We aimed to study patients’ acceptance of physicians’ attire, their underlying reasons, and their reactions to an educational intervention with regards to the risks of contamination. Methods: We conducted a voluntary questionnaire survey at a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong from February to July 2012. 262 patient-responses from adult inpatients and outpatients across various specialties were analysed. Results: White coats were highly favoured (90.8%) when compared with scrubs (22.1%), smart casual (7.6%) and formal (7.3%) wears. ’Professional image’ and ‘ease of identification’ were the main attributes of the white coat. Most patients (92.2%) would prefer doctors washing their white coats every few days, whilst 80.9% believed that doctors were actually doing so. After patients were informed of the potential risk of microbial contamination, white coats remained as the most favoured attire (66.4%), but with scrubs doubling in popularity (45.8%). Smart casual (9.2%) and formal attire (4.6%) remain the least accepted. Conclusion: Despite cross-infections being a significant concern within the healthcare environments, patients’ predominant acceptance and perceived attributes towards the white coat were maintained after an educational intervention on the risks of microbial contamination.http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/216clothingcross infectionpatient preferencepatient safety |
| spellingShingle | Enoch C. T. So Faraday H. F. Fung Joshua K. H. Yeung Lilian H. Y. Chow Julio S. H. Kwok Ruby L. Y. Lam Tommy C. Y. So Faye S. M. Yu Dana Vackova Gilberto K. K. Leung Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination International Journal of Medical Students clothing cross infection patient preference patient safety |
| title | Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination |
| title_full | Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination |
| title_fullStr | Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination |
| title_short | Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination |
| title_sort | patient perception of physician attire before and after disclosure of the risks of microbial contamination |
| topic | clothing cross infection patient preference patient safety |
| url | http://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/216 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT enochctso patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT faradayhffung patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT joshuakhyeung patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT lilianhychow patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT julioshkwok patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT rubylylam patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT tommycyso patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT fayesmyu patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT danavackova patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination AT gilbertokkleung patientperceptionofphysicianattirebeforeandafterdisclosureoftherisksofmicrobialcontamination |