Patient SatisfactionNCT03403660
Physician Attire and Appreciation of Physician Communication in Postpartum Women
A study testing non White coat in people with Patient Satisfaction, run by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Wearing white coat during hospital rounds has been associated with increased risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. On the other hand, studies have shown that physicians' attire affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient-physician relationship. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 50 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Patient Satisfaction
- What is being tested?
- non White coat
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 178 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2017to 16 Jun 2017
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 50 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Maternal age ≥ 18 years and <50 years
- Patient admitted to postpartum floor at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
- Patient care managed by obstetric physicians during the postpartum period.
Who cannot join
- Patient admitted to ICU
- Delivery resulting in stillbirth Patient not fluent in Spanish and/or English
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Universty of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas, 77550
About this study
Wearing white coat during hospital rounds has been associated with increased risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. On the other hand, studies have shown that physicians' attire affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient-physician relationship. The results of these studies were highly dependent on the practice setting, with no data in postpartum patients.
The objective is to test the hypothesis that not wearing a white coat during physician postpartum rounds impact patient-physician communication scores.
Read the detailed description
Patient satisfaction is an important measure of quality of care. One of the most important variables in patients satisfaction scores is the physician communication skills. There have been several studies evaluating different strategies to improve the patient perceptions of patient - physician communication including delayed physician rounds, improvement of handoff strategies, and family centered rounds. Additionally, research has shown that patients develop a first impression of their physician based on the physician's verbal and nonverbal communication, including the clothing and cleanliness. Patient - physician communication scores not only have an impact on patient care, but are also now linked to Medicare reimbursements.
White coats have been widely used in the medical profession, however some physicians believe that this can be a nonverbal barrier to patient's interaction. Prior studies on the impact of physician attire have reported conflicting results. In a survey published by Cha et al, obstetric and gynecologic patients seen in the outpatient clinic preferred that the resident use white coats. Another study showed that patients favor the use of white coat in the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic which may favorably influence trust and confidence in the medical encounter.
No randomized controlled trial has been published on the impact of the use of white coat on patient - physician communication scores in the postpartum patients. This trial's primary outcome is to evaluate the impact of physician attire (specifically wearing white coat) during postpartum rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
This study is a randomized controlled trial performed in postpartum patients to evaluate the impact of not wearing white coat during rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
- Conditions
- Patient Satisfaction
- Being tested
- non White coat
- Keywords
- Attire, White coat, Patient physician communication
- Medical subject headings
- Patient Satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
non White coatOther
Postpartum patients are randomized to either arm of the study (white coat or standard scrub suit only) by location. All the obstetric physicians associated with patient's postpartum care should use or not use white coat in every single encounter with patient.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| non white coat rounding | Experimental | The postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed wearing white coat. Receives: Other: non White coat |
| White coat rounding | Placebo comparator | The postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed not wearing white coat. Receives: Other: non White coat |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient - physician communication score
Obtained from the three Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) questions.
Measured: 24 to 120 hours
Secondary outcomes (4)
Hospital rating scores
Obtained from one question of the HCAHPS survey
Measured: 24 to 120 hours
Recommending the hospital to friends and family
Obtained from one question of the HCAHPS survey
Measured: 24 to 120 hours
Physician attire rating score
Rated from 1 to 4
Measured: 24 to 120 hours
White coat use
Patient answer if she remember or not if their physician were using white coat.
Measured: 24 to 120 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted18 Jan 2018
- Study start1 May 2017
- Primary completion16 Jun 2017
- Study completion16 Jun 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Patient SatisfactionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Texas Medical Branch, GalvestonThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Women are randomly assigned to having their postpartum physician team wear a white coat (WC) or not (no-WC) during rounds.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 178 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Mauricio La Rosa, MD, Study director, University of Texas
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03403660
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IRB 17-0096
- Status last verified
- Jan 2018
- First submitted
- 20 Dec 2017
- Last updated
- 5 Feb 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Feb 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Physician Attire and Appreciation of Physician Communication in Postpartum Women
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03403660
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IRB 17-0096
- Conditions
- Patient Satisfaction
- Keywords
- Attire, White coat, Patient physician communication
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 178 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, GalvestonUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 May 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Jun 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 16 Jun 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 18 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Wearing white coat during hospital rounds has been associated with increased risk of colonization and transmission of resistant pathogens. On the other hand, studies have shown that physicians' attire affects patients' confidence in their physician and the patient-physician relationship. The results of these studies were highly dependent on the practice setting, with no data in postpartum patients.
The objective is to test the hypothesis that not wearing a white coat during physician postpartum rounds impact patient-physician communication scores.
Detailed description
Patient satisfaction is an important measure of quality of care. One of the most important variables in patients satisfaction scores is the physician communication skills. There have been several studies evaluating different strategies to improve the patient perceptions of patient - physician communication including delayed physician rounds, improvement of handoff strategies, and family centered rounds. Additionally, research has shown that patients develop a first impression of their physician based on the physician's verbal and nonverbal communication, including the clothing and cleanliness. Patient - physician communication scores not only have an impact on patient care, but are also now linked to Medicare reimbursements.
White coats have been widely used in the medical profession, however some physicians believe that this can be a nonverbal barrier to patient's interaction. Prior studies on the impact of physician attire have reported conflicting results. In a survey published by Cha et al, obstetric and gynecologic patients seen in the outpatient clinic preferred that the resident use white coats. Another study showed that patients favor the use of white coat in the Internal Medicine outpatient clinic which may favorably influence trust and confidence in the medical encounter.
No randomized controlled trial has been published on the impact of the use of white coat on patient - physician communication scores in the postpartum patients. This trial's primary outcome is to evaluate the impact of physician attire (specifically wearing white coat) during postpartum rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
This study is a randomized controlled trial performed in postpartum patients to evaluate the impact of not wearing white coat during rounds on "patient - physician communication" scores.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Women are randomly assigned to having their postpartum physician team wear a white coat (WC) or not (no-WC) during rounds.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| non white coat rounding | Experimental | Other: non White coatThe postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed wearing white coat. |
| White coat rounding | Placebo comparator | Other: non White coatThe postpartum physician rounding in this group will be performed not wearing white coat. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 50 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Maternal age ≥ 18 years and <50 years
- Patient admitted to postpartum floor at University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
- Patient care managed by obstetric physicians during the postpartum period.
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patient admitted to ICU
- Delivery resulting in stillbirth Patient not fluent in Spanish and/or English
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| non White coatPostpartum patients are randomized to either arm of the study (white coat or standard scrub suit only) by location. All the obstetric physicians associated with patient's postpartum care should use or not use white coat in every single encounter with patient. | Other | White coat rounding, non white coat rounding |
Primary outcome
Patient - physician communication score
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Obtained from the three Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) questions.
4 secondary outcomes
Hospital rating scores
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Recommending the hospital to friends and family
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Physician attire rating score
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
White coat use
Time frame: 24 to 120 hours
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Feb 2018.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Patient Satisfaction
Not yet recruiting
Effect of Stress Ball Use During Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal After Coronary Angiography
Femoral Arterial Sheath Removal, Stress Ball
Recruiting
Hybrid mHealth and Telerehabilitation vs Conventional Physiotherapy for Subacromial Pain Syndrome
Subacromial Pain Syndrome
RecruitingObservational study
A Study to Evaluate Patient-Reported Satisfaction, Effectiveness, and Safety of Atezolizumab in Participants Treated in Routine Clinical Practice
Lung Cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Recruiting
Effect of Mandala Coloring on Anxiety, Pain, Vital Signs, and Patient Satisfaction in Patients Undergoing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate
Mandala Coloring
Not yet recruiting
Feasibility of a Web-based Single-session Intervention Combined With Ecological Momentary Assessment and Intervention for Patients With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awaiting Inpatient Treatment
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Mauricio La Rosa, MD study director
University of Texas
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing non White coat in people with Patient Satisfaction, run by The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Feb 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient - physician communication score (time frame: 24 to 120 hours). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Feb 2018.