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Abstract
Background: Physicians’
attire is one important factor
to enhance the physician-patient
relationship. However, there
are few studies that examine
patients’ preferences
for physicians’ attire
in Qatar. This study aims
to explore patients’
preferences regarding their
physician’s attire (Business,
Professional, Surgical Scrub,
Casual, Qatari).
Method:
A total of 800 participants
were included in this study;
400 subjects from Hamad Medical
Corporation (HMC) and 400
from Primary Health Care Corporation
(PHCC).
Hamad
Medical Corporation and Primary
Health Care are major government
healthcare institutions in
Qatar. Any resident in Qatar
can easily access them. Participants
from PHCC were divided equally
across the 3 health centers.
This study used observational
analytical cross-sectional
study design, conducted at
West Bay, Al Rayan, Leabaib
Health Care Centers. As PHCC
is divided into three main
regions, we randomized the
allocated health center in
regards to these regions and
we randomly chose the following
mentioned study areas: Al
Rayan health center in the
Eastern area, West Bay Health
Center in the middle, Leabaib
health center in the Northern
area and Hamad Medical Corporation
Outpatients. Participants
were selected using systematic
random sampling, beginning
with a randomly chosen individual,
followed by every other patient
on the physician’s list.
During their waiting time
before seeing the physician,
patients were approached and
invited to participate, with
the physician remaining unaware
of the patient’s participation
status. All procedures followed
the guidelines outlined in
the research information sheet.
The interviewer introduced
themselves, providing their
name and specialty, explained
the study’s title and
objectives, and requested
that potential participants
present their health card
to verify age, confirm any
history of mental illness,
and specify their preferred
language (Arabic or English).
Verbal consent was obtained
from all participants.
Results:
A cross-sectional study was
conducted using 800 patients
enrolled, 461 (57.6%) of respondents
were females. Age of subjects
ranged from 18 to 65 years
old. The majority of the respondents
were non-Qatari (n=386, 48.3%).
Most of the respondents preferred
professional attire for physicians
(n=541, 67.6%) and the majority
preferred a female doctor
slightly higher than male
(n=362, 45.3% and n=325, 40.6%
respectively). The most preferred
attire for both family female
and family male doctors was
professional attire with white
coat (n=507, 63.4% for female
doctor attire and n=516, 64.5%
for male doctor attire).
Conclusions:
Patients in the PHCC and Hamad
General Hospital outpatient
clinics in Qatar prefer their
physicians to be dressed in
professional attire. Our results
highlighted a view regarding
physicians’ attire, which
can serve as a guide to improve
patient’s respect and
enhance confidence in doctors
in Qatar.
Key
words: Physician attire,
Business attire,
Professional white coat attire,
Surgical Scrub attire, Casual
attire, Qatari attire.
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