An interventional study of non White coat in Patient Satisfaction, sponsored by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-02-05.
Sponsored by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
Wearing white coat during hospital rounds has been associated with increased risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. On the other hand, studies have shown that physicians' attire affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient-physician relationship. The results of these studies were highly dependent on the practice setting, with no data in postpartum patients.
The objective is to test the hypothesis that not wearing a white coat during physician postpartum rounds impact patient-physician communication scores.
Patient satisfaction is an important measure of quality of care. One of the most important variables in patients satisfaction scores is the physician communication skills. There have been several studies evaluating different strategies to improve the patient perceptions of patient - physician communication including delayed physician rounds, improvement of handoff strategies, and family centered rounds. Additionally, research has shown that patients develop a first impression of their physician based on the physician's verbal and nonverbal communication, including the clothing and cleanliness. Patient - physician communication scores not only have an impact on patient care, but are also now linked to Medicare reimbursements.
White coats have been widely used in the medical profession, however some physicians believe that this can be a nonverbal barrier to patient's interaction. Prior studies on the impact of physician attire have reported conflicting results. In a survey published by Cha et al, obstetric and gynecologic patients seen in the outpatient clinic preferred that the resident use white coats. Another study showed that patients favor the use of white coat in the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic which may favorably influence trust and confidence in the medical encounter.
No randomized controlled trial has been published on the impact of the use of white coat on patient - physician communication scores in the postpartum patients. This trial's primary outcome is to evaluate the impact of physician attire (specifically wearing white coat) during postpartum rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
This study is a randomized controlled trial performed in postpartum patients to evaluate the impact of not wearing white coat during rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
Exclusion Criteria:
The postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed wearing white coat.
Other: non White coat
The postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed not wearing white coat.
Other: non White coat
Postpartum patients are randomized to either arm of the study (white coat or standard scrub suit only) by location. All the obstetric physicians associated with patient's postpartum care should use or not use white coat in every single encounter with patient.
Patient - physician communication score
Obtained from the three Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) questions.
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Hospital rating scores
Obtained from one question of the HCAHPS survey
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Recommending the hospital to friends and family
Obtained from one question of the HCAHPS survey
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Physician attire rating score
Rated from 1 to 4
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
White coat use
Patient answer if she remember or not if their physician were using white coat.
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is completed, as verified in Jan 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston