Biomaterial Database

Understanding patient preferences for student clinician attire: a cross-sectional study of a student chiropractic clinic in Australia. 2023

Jean Théroux, and Corey Rogers, and Rebecca Moyle, and Indigo Atwood, and Mia Bebic, and Sofie Murfit, and Rachel Martin, and Samara Klee, and Tahla Even, and Alexander Moore, and Zachary Willmott, and Kimberly McCartney, and Vincenzo Cascioli, and Marc-André Blanchette, and Amber Beynon

School of Allied Health, Murdoch University.

Previous studies have investigated the role of clinical attire in establishing patient-held perceptions of professionalism and knowledgeability across various healthcare settings. This study aimed to understand patients' preferences for chiropractic student attire. Three hundred and twenty patients were recruited from a university chiropractic clinic and asked to complete an online questionnaire. The patients' preferences for five different attires were rated and calculated as the composite score of five domains (knowledgeable, trustworthy, caring, professional, and comfortable). While 71.9% of participants indicated that how students dress was important to them, most (63.4%) disagreed that wearing a white coat was essential for chiropractic student clinicians. The most preferred form of attire was the current clinic shirt. The attire worn by chiropractic student clinicians at a single institution was found to be an influential attribute. Student chiropractic clinicians should dress professionally to make a good first impression. This study provided some guidance with the ongoing debate around students' dress code.