Preferences of ophthalmic plastics patients and their caregivers toward the doctors’ attire and initial communications: A tertiary eye care study.
Indian J Ophthalmol
; 2016 June; 64(6): 448-451
Article
in En
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-179316
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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IMSEAR
Language:
En
Journal:
Indian J Ophthalmol
Year:
2016
Type:
Article