Factors That Affect Trust Between Physicians and Patients

Recruiting

• Conditions: Trust

• Registration Number: NCT06125431
• Lead Sponsor: Loma Linda University

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to evaluate patient perception and preference in physician attire. Eligible subjects admitted to medical-surgical hospital unit will complete a survey expressing perceptions and preference regarding physician attire.

Detailed Description

Hospitalists (internal medicine physicians) work in one week rotations. Each hospitalist will serve as a control.

During one week rotation, the hospitalist will wear surgical scrubs throughout the rotation. At the end of the rotation (or prior to subject discharge, whichever occurs first), the hospitalist will ask subjects seen during that rotation to complete the survey regarding the hospitalist attire.

During a second week of rotation, the hospitalist will wear professional attire with a white coat throughout that rotation. At the end of the rotation (or prior to subject discharge, whichever occurs first), the hospitalist will ask subjects seen during that rotation to complete the survey regarding the hospitalist attire.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-11-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-11-04
• Study First Posted: 2023-11-09
• Study Start: 2023-12-15
• Status Verified: 2025-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-06
• Last Update Posted: 2025-03-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-12
• Study Completion: 2025-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• Subjects 18 years of ages or older
• Admitted to LLUMC medical surgical unit, under care of internal medicine physician
• Primary language is English or Spanish

Exclusion Criteria

• Less than 18 years of age
• altered mental status or severe dementia
• Hearing or vision impairment that would preclude subject from completing survey

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Patient Preference for Type of Physician Attire	At the end of hospitalist rotation or prior to subject discharge, whichever occurs first, not to exceed one week from study enrollment.	Subjects will complete a one-time survey via paper or iPAD. The survey is based on the Modified Trust in Physician Scale: A Measure to Assess Interpersonal Trust in Patient Physician Relationships with answers provided on a 5 point Likert Scale where 1 means strongly disagree, 2 means disagree, 3 is neutral, 4 means agree and 5 means strongly agree. The total score will reflect patient preference for traditional physician attire (street clothes and white coat) or casual physician attire (surgical scrubs). A high score would reflect a favorable response for the physician wearing traditional attire.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Loma Linda University Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Loma Linda, California, United States