The effect of white coats and gender on medical students’ perceptions of physicians
Date
2017-05-26
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Abstract
Abstract
Background
Despite the fact that medical schools spend a considerable effort to rate clinical instructors, there is limited evidence regarding the effect of physical characteristics on instructor ratings. White coats have been shown to alter patients’ perceptions of physicians although it has not been determined if preceptors who wear white coats are rated differently than their colleagues.
Methods
Second year medical students were administered a questionnaire with four clinical scenarios depicting medical errors accompanied by a picture of a physician of different sexes and ethnicities. The packages were randomized so that the physicians depicted either had or did not have a white coat.
Results
White coats did not alter the perception of physicians’ ratings by medical students although sex and ethnicity/case were associated with the perception of trustworthiness, physician management, competence, professionalism and the perception of medical error.
Conclusions
Physical characteristics may alter students’ ratings of physicians.
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Citation
BMC Medical Education. 2017 May 26;17(1):93