Evidence-based physicians' dressing: a crossover trial.

OBJECTIVE To describe the effect of physicians' dress on patient confidence and trust. DESIGN A prospective crossover trial involving physicians dressed in "respectable" versus "retro" attire. SETTING A general medicine ward at a tertiary hospital. PARTICIPANTS 12 male general physicians and 1680 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Patient trust and confidence as measured by a questionnaire mailed after hospital discharge. RESULTS Formal attire was correlated with higher patient confidence and trust. Nose rings were particularly deleterious to patients' reported trust and confidence. A minimum threshold of two items of formal attire (dress pants, dress shirt, tie, or white coat) were necessary to inspire a reasonable amount of confidence; this is the NND (number needed to dress). CONCLUSIONS We highlight the need for more research into the effects of physician dress, and coin the term "evidence-based dressing".