It seems that most patients prefer the buttoned up look of TV doctors from an earlier era, opting for a "Marcus Welby, MD"-type physician as opposed to the scruffy, surgical-scrub wearing doctors portrayed on TV shows like "ER" and "Chicago Hope."

A carefully dressed (healthcare) provider might convey the image that he or she is meticulous and careful. Alternatively, an unkempt appearance might convey impressions of uncaring or disorganized behavior. Most patients "had no preference with regard to the sex, age or race of their medical care provider.

However, more than one third of the group thought that male health care providers should avoid cologne, open shirts, long hair or ponytails and earrings. At least one in four patients preferred traditional hairstyles for their doctor, regardless of gender, and would rather see their female physician wearing a skirt, dress or dress pants.

One in four of those surveyed thought that wearing tennis shoes or surgical scrubs was undesirable for both male and female physicians.

Based on the results of this study, to best serve their patients, medical care providers... should wear a name badge, white coat, and dress shoes and should avoid wearing blue jeans, clogs and sandals while on duty.

Archives of Dermatology April 2002; 138(4):463-6