How do patients choose a new physician?
From personal referrals to diplomas on the wall to communication styles to what the doctor is wearing– patients use many types of information to make a decision about a new physician.
A recent article in the LA Times discusses the doctor-shopping process and quoted a 2005 American Journal of Medicine study about physician dress. From the LA Times….
In a 2005 study published in the American Journal of Medicine, 400 men and women were presented with pictures of physicians in four different styles of dress. When asked what style they preferred, 3/4 of the study participants said they preferred their doctors in professional attire, complete with white coat. Less than 5% want to see a physician dressed casually. They also reported that they’d be more likely to share their problems with a doctor who was dressed professionally.
The bottom line: Finding a good doctor is no easy feat. It often requires looking beyond the diplomas to the person who earned them.
To read What to wear today? Effect of doctor’s attire on the trust and confidence of patients by Rehman et al, click here.
