Survey: Patients want Dr House not Dr Kildare

2/3 of patients would rather have a clever doctor than a nice doctor according to a

survey undertaken by researcher Dr. Shaun Holt.

The survey of over 100 patients looked at which characteristics of family doctors patients liked or disliked.

Patients reported that medical knowledge and bedside manner were both very important, but they were

much less concerned that their doctor was of the same age, gender or ethnicity.

Dr. Holt said: “Patients want the perfect doctor, but if they had to choose they would pick a doctor that

they consider to be clever rather than nice. Most would rather get correct medical information, even if

bedside manner was lacking....very much like Dr.House!”

Other findings were that very old doctors, young doctors who look like they’ve just qualified and doctors

with strong religious beliefs were not preferred. However, nearly 1/5 said that it would be good if their

doctor had “movie star looks”.

The survey was inspired by a report of a bogus doctor caught giving dangerous advice, whose patients

wanted to continue seeing him because he was so nice. Dr. Holt said that the finding that 1/3 of patients

prefer a nice doctor rather than a clever one may partially explain the popularity of many alternative

health practitioners who often excelled in bedside manner even if their treatments did not work.

Full report: Holt S, Gilbey A. A survey of New Zealand patients’ preferred characteristics of their general

practitioners. New Zealand Medical Journal 11 December 2009.

To contact Dr Holt: Email: holtshaun@gmail.com Phone: 07 552 4340 or 029 200 11 11

About Dr Shaun Holt

• Doctor, researcher, author, commentator and speaker
• One of NZ’s most experienced medical researchers
• Author of 2008 best-seller “Natural Remedies that Really Work”
• Regular appearances on TV One’s Breakfast show and national radio shows
• Member of International Editorial Board of medical research journal FACT