Factors affecting the professional image of physicians.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to use an experimental design to determine the effect of selected aspects of dress on the professional image of physicians in an adult outpatient setting by those who use the health care services the most (55+), the least (18 to 22), and other physicians on whom we depend for referrals.

Methods: Ten slides of physicians representing a variety of ages; ethnic and religious affiliations were shown to 3 populations across the United States and Canada. Set 1 (N = 216) was shown to undergraduates and rated on 10 attributes of professional image.