Patient’s Preference on Neurosurgeon’s Attire and Appearance: A Single Center Study in Korea Cross-Sectional Study

Objective. This study was performed to assess neurosurgery patients’ preference for surgeon’s attire and appearance in the hospital. Methods. A total of 100 patients were investigated using a questionnaire comprising 13 questions. We first asked patients about neurosurgeon’s appearance including accessories, hair color, mustache, and beard. Then, based on their preferences, they were asked to rank a series of photographs which illustrated a variety of neurosurgeon attires worn by a doctor. Results. Professional attire with white coat was the most ideal for patients compared to any other attire (preference scale 5.28 ± 1.24), and there was a significant preference gap between wearing a white coat and not wearing a white coat (p