Editorial

Patient Perception of Physician Appearance: A Concern for All Physicians

Authors: Douglas F. Aukerman, MD

Abstract

In an age of consumerist medicine and patient mistrust of physicians due to massive, and generally negative, media coverage of physicians, the patient’s perception of their physician has become an important area of concern. The appearance of a physician may influence anything from the patient’s opinions of physician competence to compliance with prescribed treatments. In current American society, casual dress has become commonplace, which has carried over into physicians’ offices. Now, one is more likely to see the medical staff in a primary care practice wearing scrubs than wearing traditional work attire (slacks, shirt, and tie for men; skirt and blouse for women).

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