How should psychiatrists dress?--a survey.

Personal attire is an important part of being a professional. This survey is an attempt to determine the patient's and psychiatrists view point about how a psychiatrist should dress to work. A human subjects research board approved survey of seven questions was offered to patients and a similar survey of nine questions was offered to psychiatrists. The replies obtained were combined and tabulated. One hundred patients and 77 psychiatrists responded to the survey. Both the patients and psychiatrists considered dress to be an important part of the doctor-patient relationship. The psychiatrists appear to be more concerned and critical about their dress as compared to patients.