Date Presented 04/03/2025
This study explored the perspectives of OT students on the utility and relevance of a white coat ceremony in OT education. Beliefs and attitudes about alternative traditions or rituals to promote professional identity were also examined.
Primary Author and Speaker: Yolanda Griffiths
Additional Authors and Speakers: Cole Brockman, Kristen Phillips
PURPOSE: A white coat ceremony has been used as a tradition in health care education. This study examined whether a white coat ceremony is relevant in OT professional level education today.
DESIGN AND METHOD: Survey research was designed using multiple choice and short answer questions.The population being studied included the Assembly of Student Delegate (ASD),or a designated student leader/representative from professional level OT programs currently accredited, in candidacy or pre-accreditation stage for accreditation. Programs only at the applicant stage as of September 1, 2024, were excluded as they will not have admitted or enrolled any students yet. There were 352 master's level and Entry Level OTD programs in the United States as of July 30, 2024, that fit the inclusion criteria for this study.
RESULTS: 143 surveys were completed by a student leader for a 40.6% response rate. Preliminary analysis of the data showed that 59% indicated that they had a white coat ceremony, 35% indicated that they had an alternative ceremony and 6% indicated that they had no ceremony at all. Qualitative analysis strategies were used to examine the short answer responses, resulting in the following themes regarding student perspectives of a white coat ceremony: (a) the rite of passage into a healthcare profession, (b) recognition of dedication and achievement, and (c) symbolism and professional identity. If a program held an alternative ceremony, a pinning ceremony was the most common tradition. Further analysis and refinement of coding of other data are in progress.
CONCLUSION: There are compelling reasons to disseminate the outcomes of this study besides adding to the professional literature. On some campuses, the issue of a white coat ceremony has been contentious and polarizing between faculty and students. The optics of a white coat ceremony link the profession strongly to a medical model, yet we are a more diverse, holistic profession developing into more areas of practice.
References
Background and Significance. (n.d.). The Arnold P. Gold Foundation. Retrieved April 14, 2024, from https://www.gold-foundation.org/programs/white-coat-ceremony/background-and-significance/
Brokus, S. Patel, S., Griffiths, Y., Benson, S. & Swenzinski, S. (2023). Exploring the History & Role of the White Coat Ceremony in OT Education. American Occupational Therapy Association Inspire Conference. April 2023.
Karnieli-Miller, O., Frankel, R. M., & Inui, T. S. (2013). Cloak of compassion, or evidence of elitism? An empirical analysis of white coat ceremonies. Medical Education, 47(1), 97–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2012.04324.x
Goodwin, A., & Crowley, D. (2024). Improving Occupational Therapy Doctoral Students’ Social Awareness for Making Equitable Policy Decisions: A Quantitative Quasi-Experimental Study. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2168
