Résumé
Introduction: non-verbal communication plays an important role in the doctor-patient relationship, but this communication involves appearance, among other things. The problem with liberal medicine is that there is no dress code. The main objective was to interpret the general practitioner's feelings in choosing his or her physical appearance and clothing on the basis of his or her caring relationship, and the secondary objective was to establish the usefulness for general practitioners of training in non-verbal communication, particularly on physical appearance, during the university curriculum.Method: qualitative study based on 16 semi-directed interviews with general practitioners. A phenomenological analysis completed with a semio-pragmatic approach was carried out.Result-Discussion: for almost all practitioners surveyed, their appearance has an impact on their doctor-patient relationship. The criteria for hoosing GPs with regard to their appearance and dress are varied. The most often cited are: the importance of remaining oneself, the representation of former doctors, dress codes respecting medical ethics (hygiene, respectfor the patient and pathology), the choice of the white coat that remains controversial in general practice, which is intended to be a local medicine, and the gender and age of the practitioner can dictate the choice of his appearance to help him to assert himself as a caregiver. According to physicians, non-verbal communication, which is essential, is not sufficiently addressed during the university curriculum and the question of the physician's appearance is even less so when it can influence the doctor-patient relationship.Conclusion: the physician's physical appearance and dress may have an impact on the physician-patient relationship and each practitioner determines, based on his or her own choices, criteria to be met to help him or her establish a therapeutic relationship that he or she deems appropriate.