Hospital doctors' attire during COVID-19 and beyond: time for a permanent change.
Ir J Med Sci
; 191(6): 2445-2447, 2022 Dec.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1641002
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The debate on current doctors' attire in Irish hospital resurfaced alongside COVID-19, as a shift in doctors' attire from professional attire to scrubs was observed.AIM:
The current study aimed to explore whether COVID-19 has changed the way in which hospital doctors perceive their personal attire, and whether this group wish for changes implemented during COVID-19 to become permanent.METHODS:
Hospital doctors (n = 151), across all specialties and seniority at University Hospital Galway (UHG), filled out a ten-point online questionnaire exploring their experience of and attitudes towards hospital attire during COVID-19. Data collected and analysed in August-September 2020.RESULTS:
Seventy-six percent (119) changed their attire during COVID-19 to scrubs (54% to hospital provided; 22% to private). Thirty-eight percent (56) reported feeling uncomfortable with bringing clothing home, highlighting the infection control risk. Seventy-four per cent (110) wanted the change to scrubs as standard attire to become permanent (65% to hospital provided; 9% to private). Thirty-two percent (47) noted a change in patients' perception when wearing scrubs.CONCLUSION:
Hospital doctors changed their attire during COVID-19, and 75% would like these changes to become permanent. Most (67%) did not notice a change in their patient's perception of them, raising questions about the longstanding beliefs surrounding 'professional attire'. A large number of doctors are also worried about bringing clothing home. The humble hospital scrubs have shown their worth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Why not continue to wear them?Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Physician-Patient Relations
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Ir J Med Sci
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S11845-022-02922-1
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