Preferences of ophthalmic plastics patients and their caregivers toward the doctors’ attire and initial communications: A tertiary eye care study.
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Date
2016-06
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Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Communication, doctor’s attire, doctor’s dress, patient’s expectations, physician‑patient relationship
Citation
Iram Sadiya, Prakash Winston D, Ali Mohammad Javed, Dave Tarjani Vivek, Naik Milind N. Preferences of ophthalmic plastics patients and their caregivers toward the doctors’ attire and initial communications: A tertiary eye care study. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 2016 June; 64(6): 448-451.