Physicians Attire — Does It Matter to Patients?

In a survey, white coats were rated more highly than other attire; women were rated as less professional than men, regardless of attire.

The historical symbolism of the white coat — representing an aseptic and scientific approach to medical practice — has waned. Physician attire has changed markedly in recent years, particularly among trainees and younger physicians. In this study, researchers explored the effect of physician attire on patient perceptions of physician experience and professionalism. A convenience sample of 487 adults (mean age, 36) received a web-based survey that contained photos of male and female models wearing various combinations of typical business attire, scrub suits, fleece vests, softshell jackets, and white coats. (The photos are available as Supplemental Content associated with this article on the JAMA Network Open website.)

Models wearing white co…

Reviewing Author

Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Thomas L. Schwenk, MD

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Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Physicians Attire — Does It Matter to Patients?

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Reviewing Author