PATIENTS’ PERSPECTIVE ON DOCTOR’S ATTIRE

Abstract

Objective:

The main aim of this study is to observe the patient’s perspective on doctor’s attire.

Materials and Method:

This study was carried out among four hundred patients in both department of Gynaecology and obstetrics, and otorhinolaryngology in Kathmandu university hospital, Dhulikhel from 1st June to 1st July 2012. Questionnaires were prepared which contains the demographic data and patients’ answers of ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the questions asked.  All data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 software with frequency and percentage.

Results:

About 343(85.8%) patients are below 45 years. The male to female ratio is 0.8:1. About 205(51.2%) patients had education level of primary/ high school, whereas only 19(4.8%) patients had master degree. About 329(82.3%) patients want their doctors to wear white coat. 208(52%) patients think that white coat is required for identification, whereas 143(35.7%) patients think that it is required for preventing infection. All our patients think that nametag is required for identification of the doctor. 290(72.6%) patients think that it is required for doctors to wear stethoscope. Most of our patients explained that stethoscope is required for patient examination. Similarly, out of 110 patients, 79(71.9%) patients explained that the stethoscope may not be required for all doctors.

Conclusion:

Patient prefers doctors to wear white coat, nametag and stethoscope as these attire gives doctor more professional look and also easy to identify the treating doctors.

Keywords: Attire, Nametag, Patients' perspective, Stethoscope