Perceptions of US and Australian Medical Students and Instructors About Clinical Professional Attire: LAPEL Study

Barriers of students' adherence to dress code policy in clinical settings: dental students' viewpoint

Medical universities have called for a professional dress code to preserve the dignity of the medical profession, creating a sense of respect, tranquility, and trust in healthcare recipients and improve patient safety. This study aims to explain the reasons behind poor adherence to the professional dress code by students of the dentistry school. A qualitative study was conducted to explain the viewpoints of dentistry students of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Twenty-three in-depth interviews with dentistry students of different genders, study years, living in different accommodations, and having different tuition payment status were conducted. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. One hundred and twenty initial codes were extracted. They were categorized into common causes of non-adherence to the TUMS Dress Code and specific causes of not following a specific section of the dress code (hygiene, jewelry, and makeup sections). The codes of common causes were categorized into 4 main categories including defects in education, management shortcomings, changes in societal culture, and personal factors. All components of the educational system must be aligned with each other to overcome the barriers against the students' adherence to professional dress and put forward appropriate interventions at the policymaking, regulatory and educational levels.

Colonization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among Medical Students in Tertiary Institution in Central Malaysia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA infection is virulent and presents with a broad spectrum of severity. Limited regional reports that specifically outlined the potential risk of medical students being part of the dissemination of MRSA in healthcare settings were noted. This study aims to assess the prevalence and contributory factors of colonization of MRSA on neckties, headscarves, and ID badges among medical students in a local medical university in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 256 medical students. A validated questionnaire was used to collect the data, and sample swabs were collected between July and August 2013 by swabbing neckties, headscarves, or identification badges. The swabs were then streaked onto mannitol salt agar (MSA) and incubated at 37 °C overnight. Out of 433 samples taken, 40 swabs (9.24%) were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Out of the 40 swabs, five (12.5%) isolates were MRSA (one culture was isolated from the headscarf of a preclinical student, one culture was isolated from the necktie of clinical students, while the remaining three were isolated from identification badges of clinical students. There was no significant association between age, gender, ethnicity, and phase of medical students with the colonization of MRSA (p > 0.05). There was a significant association between knowledge score on hand hygiene practice and phase of medical students. MRSA colonies were present on neckties, headscarves, and identification badges of medical students of all phases. The findings from this study suggest the need for improvement of hand hygiene knowledge and discontinuity of mandatory use of physical ID badges and neckties among medical students.

Investigating Patient Preferences in Medical Student Attire in the Outpatient Otolaryngology Setting

BACKGROUND

The authors sought to investigate patient preferences on physician and medical student attire in the outpatient otolaryngology setting.

METHODS

A prospective sample of 50 (23 males, 27 females) patients presenting to an otolaryngology clinic in a North American teaching hospital, Boston, MA, were included. Patients were seen by a researcher wearing a white coat and either (1) a shirt and tie or (2) surgical scrubs, then completed a Likert-style survey evaluating feelings of trust, comfort, and professionalism. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.

RESULTS

Most patients (82%, 41/50) believed that attire was important. Men and older patients were significantly more likely to believe attire was important (P = .01 and .005, respectively). Patients were significantly more comfortable when seen by a provider wearing a shirt and tie compared to scrubs (U = 109.5, P = .021); however, there was no difference in feelings of trust or professionalism (P = .5* and .6*, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Physician attire is important for patients presenting to otolaryngology clinic. Patients favored a white coat with a shirt and tie. Level of Evidence: NA.