RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Physicians’ attire
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 435
OP 439
DO 10.15537/smj.2017.4.15853
VO 38
IS 4
A1 Aldrees, Turki
A1 Alsuhaibani, Roaa
A1 Alqaryan, Saleh
A1 Alzahrani, Hajer
A1 Alharethy, Sami
A1 Alghunaim, Abdullah
A1 Alohali, Sama
A1 Bawazeer, Manal
YR 2017
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/38/4/435.abstract
AB Objectives: To assess Saudi mother’s preferences regarding Saudi children’s physicians’ attire, and its influence on the parents’ level of trust and confidence.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to April 2014. Our sample comprised mothers of pediatric patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings at National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Mothers answered multiple questions, including their preferences regarding male and female pediatric physicians’ attire, their preferences regarding their children’s physician’s gender, and the impact of physician’s appearance on mothers’ confidence.Results: There were 259 female participants. Of all caregivers, 51.4% were 32-years-old or younger. Of those, 170 (65.6%) were educated (had completed high school or higher). Forty-four percent preferred that male physicians wear scrubs, while 5.4% preferred formal attire (tie, shirt, and trousers) and 27.8% preferred Saudi national attire (Thobe and shemagh). Most caregivers (57.9%) preferred that female physicians wear long skirts. Most caregivers (87.6%) preferred physicians to wear a white coat. Most (89.2%) believed that a physician’s appearance is very important.Conclusion: Gender of the treating physician is insignificant to mothers. However, the level of trust in a physician is related to his/her external appearance. Most mothers prefer their children’s physicians to wear scrubs.