Introduction

Tattoos have become a widely accepted form of self-expression, including among healthcare professionals. Despite their growing popularity, visible tattoos in clinical settings may still evoke mixed perceptions regarding professionalism, trustworthiness, or hygiene.

Aim

This study aimed to explore medical students’ attitudes toward tattoos in both social and professional contexts, and to identify factors influencing these perceptions.

Material and methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted between December 2023 and March 2024 among 331 medical students in Poland. An anonymous online questionnaire assessed sociodemographic variables, tattoo status, and attitudes toward tattoos in daily life and within the medical profession. The tattooed and non-tattooed groups were compared in statistical analysis.

Results

Among students without tattoos, it was significantly more common to believe that tattooed individuals are treated worse by employers (45.38% vs. 29.21%, p = 0.021). Both tattooed and non-tattooed respondents agreed that patients treat healthcare professionals with visible tattoos differently (67.23% vs. 56.82%, p = 0.0215). Despite these perceptions, 94.32% of tattooed and 69.33% of non-tattooed individuals stated that healthcare professionals should be allowed to have visible tattoos (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

While medical students generally hold accepting views toward tattoos, biases persist regarding their visibility and appropriateness in healthcare settings. These findings underscore the importance of educational efforts and policy development that balance professionalism with personal expression in clinical practice.