Patients’ attitudes toward the attire of male physicians: a single-center study in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The doctor–patient relationship has been influenced by the appearance of physicians, and there is an association between a physician’s physical appearance and the patients’ initial perceptions of physician competence. This study aims to explore patients’ preferences toward the attire of a male physician, and to examine if a physician’s choice of uniform influences the degree of trust, confidence, and follow-up care among respondents. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: A cross-sectional survey conducted among patients of the Alwazarat family medicine center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 300 patients (50% were male and 83.6% had received a secondary education; the mean age was 33.4 [10.1] years) in the Alwazarat family medicine center in Riyadh. The questionnaire was also customized for the local setting with the inclusion of photos of a male doctor in Saudi Arabian national costume, and 3 other dress styles (Western dress with white coat, scrubs with white coat, and scrubs only). RESULTS: Overall, across all questions regarding physician dress style preferences, participants significantly preferred Western dress (39.9%, P<.001), followed by Saudi national dress (26.3%), a scrub suit with a white coat (22.3%), and scrubs only (11.5%). Respondents reported that they were more likely to follow medical advice and would return for follow-up care if a physician wore Western dress. They were significantly more willing to share their social, sexual, and psychological problems with a physician wearing Saudi national dress (P<.001). The importance of a physician’s appearance was ranked significantly higher by older patients (P=.002). CONCLUSION: Respondents were more likely to favor a physician wearing Western attire with a white coat. However, Saudi national dress, followed by Western dress, is the preferred attire when physicians are dealing with social, sexual, and psychological problems.