Bond L, Clamp P J, Gray K, Van Dam V
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust, UK.
J Laryngol Otol. 2010 Sep;124(9):963-6. doi: 10.1017/S0022215110001167. Epub 2010 Jun 2.
In September 2007, the Department of Health published Uniforms and Workwear: an Evidence Base for Guiding Local Policy. Following this, most National Health Service trusts imposed a 'bare below the elbow' dress code policy, with clinical staff asked to remove ties, wristwatches and hand jewellery and to wear short-sleeved tops. There is currently no evidence linking dress code to the transmission of hospital-acquired infection. We designed the current survey to assess patients' perceptions of doctors' appearance, with specific reference to the 'bare below the elbow' policy.
A questionnaire showing photographs of a doctor in three different types of attire ('scrubs', formal attire and 'bare below the elbow') were used to gather responses from 80 in-patients and 80 out-patients in the ENT department. Patients were asked which outfit they felt was the most hygienic, the most professional and the easiest identification of the person as a doctor. They were also asked to indicate their overall preference.
Formal attire was considered most professional and the easiest identification that the person was a doctor. Scrubs were considered most hygienic. Respondents' overall preference was divided between scrubs and formal clothes. 'Bare below the elbow' attire received the lowest votes in all categories.
This finding raises significant questions about the Department of Health policy in question. The authors suggest that an alternative policy should be considered, with scrubs worn for in-patient situations and formal attire during out-patient encounters.
2007年9月，卫生部发布了《制服与工作服：指导地方政策的证据基础》。此后，大多数国民保健服务信托机构实施了“肘部以下裸露”的着装规范政策，要求临床工作人员摘掉领带、手表和手部首饰，并穿短袖上衣。目前尚无证据表明着装规范与医院获得性感染的传播有关。我们设计了本次调查，以评估患者对医生外表的看法，特别是关于“肘部以下裸露”政策。
使用一份展示医生三种不同着装类型（“手术服”、正式着装和“肘部以下裸露”着装）照片的问卷，收集了耳鼻喉科80名住院患者和80名门诊患者的反馈。患者被问及他们认为哪种着装最卫生、最专业以及最容易将此人识别为医生。他们还被要求表明自己的总体偏好。
正式着装被认为最专业，也最容易识别此人是医生。手术服被认为最卫生。受访者的总体偏好分为手术服和正式服装。“肘部以下裸露”着装在所有类别中获得的票数最低。
这一发现引发了关于卫生部相关政策的重大问题。作者建议应考虑另一种政策，即住院时穿手术服，门诊时穿正式着装。
