RT - Journal TY - JOUR A1 - Iram, Sadiya A1 - Prakash, Winston A1 - Ali, Mohammad A1 - Dave, Tarjani A1 - Naik, Milind T1 - Preferences of ophthalmic plastics patients and their caregivers toward the doctors' attire and initial communications: A tertiary eye care study YR - 2016/6/1 JF - Indian Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Indian J Ophthalmol SP - 448 OP - 451 VO - 64 IS - 6 UL - https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2016;volume=64;issue=6;spage=448;epage=451;aulast=Iram;t=5 DO - 10.4103/0301-4738.187674 N2 - Purpose: The aims of this study were to determine the acceptability levels of different styles of the doctors' dress and the expectations from the initial phases of physician-patient encounter. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive type using the survey methodology. A survey based on a five-point questionnaire was performed on all consecutive patients or their caregivers, aged ≥15, visiting the ophthalmic plastics outpatient clinics at a tertiary eye care institute. The participants were shown three sets of photographs and were required to answer a questionnaire which consisted of five questions. Data collected include participant demographics and their preferences with regards to the physician's attire and initial communications. Results: A total of 300 consecutive responses were analyzed. The mean age of the participants was 37.2 years. Among the participants, 87.6% (263/300) and 90.3% (271/300) preferred a white coat for the male and female physicians, respectively (P < 0.001). The most common second preference was scrubs for both the males and female physicians. 92.3% (277/300) preferred the attire to have an identification display. The overwhelming majority of respondents (95.6%, 287/300) preferred the physicians to address them by their name and 98.6% (296/300) liked if their physicians smiled while addressing them. Conclusions: White coat was the main preferred attire among respondents. Increased awareness of the patient's expectations plays a crucial role in enhancing their satisfaction. ER -