Ideas That Work: Choose Your Scrub Colors Wisely

Practical pearls from your colleagues

A recent survey of more than 100 patients from the University of North Carolina Medical Center in Chapel Hill showed that they form perceptions about the competence and kindness of clinicians based on the color of scrubs they are wearing.

The survey, which is explained in a research letter that appeared in January in JAMA Surgery, showed the patients four photos of a male and female provider in scrubs that were green, black, blue and navy.

The participants responded that they felt those in green scrubs were likely to be the least knowledgeable, skilled, trustworthy and caring. The next scrub color with the most negative associations attached to it was black, while the two shades of blue received the most positive responses.

The study says OR teams should pay attention to the results, as they indicate patients use color to assess who is giving them care. “Given the increasing use of scrubs and the magnitude of expenditures dedicated to them, color choices should be purposeful and data-based,” states the research letter. “Although rapport depends on both tangible and intangible factors, scrub color is an easily modifiable feature that may be a factor in the clinical-patient relationship, and thus, in clinical outcomes.” OSM