What should doctors wear in the accident and emergency department? Patients perception

Abstract

In many accident and emergency (AandE) departments doctors still wear white coat or their ordinary clothes, rather than a type of uniform, which, should it become contaminated, can be changed easily for a clean uniform. Before a change of clothing to a uniform could be considered in an inner-city AandE department, a study was carried out to assess the public's perception towards different styles of dress. Three hundred and twenty-nine questionnaires were returned by minor injury patients requiring a radiograph. The study was carried out over 3 weeks in January 1993. Each week a different style of dress was worn: week - white coats, weeks 2 - normal clothing and week 3 - theatre greens. The majority of patients thought that style of dress was important but did not alter their attitude towards the AandE medical staff. There fore, there is no reason why doctors should no wear a more appropriate uniform that can be changed easily when contaminated.