Patient Perceptions of Physician Dress Depend on Setting

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Physician attire impacts patients” perceptions of professionalism, trust, and communication, but perceptions are highly context-dependent, according to a review published online Aug. 12 in BMJ Open.

Janghyeon Kim, from Hwasung Medi-Science University in South Korea, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to understand patient perceptions of physician attire.

Based on 28 studies, the researchers found that patient preferences for physician attire varied significantly by clinical context, medical specialty, and physician gender. Mixed evidence was reported in outpatient and primary care settings, with some studies suggesting that a combination of casual attire and white coats may foster approachability and communication, while others showed no clear preference. However, in high-acuity settings (e.g., emergency rooms and operating theaters), scrubs were consistently favored, indicating moderate-to-strong evidence for the association with professionalism and preparedness. Male physicians were perceived as more professional when wearing formal attire with white coats. However, female physicians in similar attire were often misidentified as nurses or assistants. There were preferences for white coats in dermatology, neurosurgery, and ophthalmology, while scrubs were preferred in anesthesiology and gastroenterology.

“The collective findings provide robust evidence that these perceptions are highly context-dependent, necessitating adaptable dress codes tailored to clinical environments and patient expectations to enhance trust and patient satisfaction,” the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text