Abstract

CRETTON-SCOTT, Erika; JOHNSON, Leah  and  KING, Sean. Pharmacist attire and its impact on patient preference. Pharmacy Pract (Granada) [online]. 2011, vol.9, n.2, pp.66-71. ISSN 1886-3655.

Objective: To determine the influence of demographics on patient preferences for community pharmacist attire. Methods: A 10-item questionnaire was developed and administered to patients visiting a chain pharmacy or an independent pharmacy in the Birmingham, Alabama metropolitan area. Mann-Whitney was used to examine if statistical differences existed in chain versus independent pharmacy patient´s selections based on pharmacist attire. Results: A statistically significant difference in patient preference for pharmacist attire between the settings in regards to which pharmacist patients felt was more approachable was observed; 51.2% of chain pharmacy respondents compared to 30% of independent pharmacy respondents identified the pharmacist pair with business formal attire and white coat as more approachable. Differences in education was also apparent with 70% of respondents in the independent pharmacy setting reporting having a Bachelor´s degree or higher compared to 45% of respondents in the chain pharmacy setting. Conclusion: With the exception of approachability, patients indicated preference for pharmacist with the white coat regardless of community setting. Given the importance of patient-pharmacist communication for building successful patient-pharmacist relationships, if patients do not perceive the pharmacists as approachable, communication and subsequent development of said relationships may not occur regardless of perceived knowledge and competency.

Keywords : Clothing; Professional-Patient Relations; Pharmacists; United States.

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