Patients embrace the ‘white coat’ effect

The majority of patients prefer their dermatologists to be dressed in professional attire with a white coat, according to an article published online by JAMA Dermatology. Patient perceptions of their physicians may affect outcomes so it is possible that physician attire may affect those outcomes. Therefore Dr Robert Kirsner of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and co-authors surveyed the attitudes of dermatology patients at general, surgical, and wound care clinics in an academic centre in Miami, Florida to determine their preferences. Out of the 261 patients surveyed, 255 participated and completed enough questions to be included in…