The tattooed doctor: An exploration of the perceptions of medical students and medical school staff

Abstract

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Objective: This study explored the perceptions of medical students and medical school staff towards tattoos. Background: As tattooing continues to become more of a mainstream practice, and with the lack of clarity provided by the General Medical Council on the topic, research to inform policy makers at a national and local level is merited. Methods: A case study was implemented to facilitate the exploration of the perceptions of tattoos. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were used for students and staff respectively for data collection. The results underwent thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke's guidance. Results: Medical students and medical school staff had broadly similar perceptions of tattoos. Four main themes were identified: the nature of tattoos, professionalism, freedom of expression and generational perceptions.