Preferences of ophthalmic plastics patients and their caregivers toward the doctors' attire and initial communications: A tertiary eye care study.

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to determine the acceptability levels of different styles of the doctors' dress and the expectations from the initial phases of physician-patient encounter.

METHODS

The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive type using the survey methodology. A survey based on a five-point questionnaire was performed on all consecutive patients or their caregivers, aged ≥15, visiting the ophthalmic plastics outpatient clinics at a tertiary eye care institute. The participants were shown three sets of photographs and were required to answer a questionnaire which consisted of five questions. Data collected include participant demographics and their preferences with regards to the physician's attire and initial communications.

RESULTS

A total of 300 consecutive responses were analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 37.2 years. Among the participants, 87.6% (263/300) and 90.3% (271/300) preferred a white coat for the male and female physicians, respectively (P < 0.001). The most common second preference was scrubs for both the males and female physicians. 92.3% (277/300) preferred the attire to have an identification display. The overwhelming majority of respondents (95.6%, 287/300) preferred the physicians to address them by their name and 98.6% (296/300) liked if their physicians smiled while addressing them.

CONCLUSIONS

White coat was the main preferred attire among respondents. Increased awareness of the patient's expectations plays a crucial role in enhancing their satisfaction.