A quantitative and qualitative study of the effect of physician attire on the empathy patients receive

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19352
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58010:Medical management and medical sociology-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Matsuhisa Takaharu 名古屋大学, 医学系研究科, 客員研究者 (80782101)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 共感 / 服装 / CARE Measure / 家庭医 / 医師患者関係 / 行動変容 / 健康増進 / 補完医療

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A questionnaire survey on trends in family physicians' attire in each practice setting was conducted, presented at a conference, and reported in a paper. Subsequently, a quasi-randomized controlled trial was conducted on the effect of whether or not family physicians wear white coats on "physician empathy as seen by patients," which was presented at a conference and reported in a paper. From these studies, a pilot randomized controlled trial of a mindfulness application focused on patient behavior change and weight loss in metabolic syndrome was conducted and reported in a paper.

Free Research Field

総合診療

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本の家庭医療専門医は、診療の場ごとに着衣する服装を変える傾向があることを明らかにした。家庭医の白衣着用の有無が「患者の視点からの医師の共感」に与える影響については、医師の服装は患者全体として受け取る医師の共感に影響を与えないが、男性患者に限定すると、白衣はカジュアルな服装に比べて、有意に受け取る医師の共感を低下させることを明らかにした。また患者の行動変容に結び付く、マインドフルネスアプリの評価を行った。