TY - JOUR AU - So, Enoch C. T. AU - Fung, Faraday H. F. AU - Yeung, Joshua K. H. AU - Chow, Lilian H. Y. AU - Kwok, Julio S. H. AU - Lam, Ruby L. Y. AU - So, Tommy C. Y. AU - Yu, Faye S. M. AU - Vackova, Dana AU - Leung, Gilberto K. K. PY - 2013/12/31 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Patient Perception of Physician Attire Before and After Disclosure of the Risks of Microbial Contamination JF - International Journal of Medical Students JA - Int J Med Stud VL - 1 IS - 3 SE - Original Article DO - 10.5195/ijms.2013.216 UR - https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/v01i03a03 SP - 109-114 AB - <p><strong>Background</strong>: 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. <br><br><strong>Methods</strong>: 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. <br><br><strong>Results</strong>: 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. <br><br><strong>Conclusion</strong>: 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.</p> ER -