Use of white coat and greetings
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe

This study was undertaken to characterise the practice patterns of paediatric ophthalmologists regarding their use of white coats and salutations in outpatient visits. A questionnaire was sent to American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) members with a response rate of 47.8% (n=606). Seven were excluded leaving 574 physicians and 25 fellow responses. Seventy-four percent did not routinely wear a white coat. Forty-six percent addressed parents as Mum / Dad, 33% by surname, 5% by first name and 16% by various combinations. Fellows did not address parents by first name alone. The results show that physician use of white coats runs contrary to patient and parent preferences. Practice patterns appear to concur with previously reported parental greeting preferences.

Physician use of white coats in pediatric ophthalmology.
deBenedictis CN, Liu GT, Nelson LB, et al.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS
2014;51:13-6.