Around 81 per cent people get disturbed when they see their doctors smoking and would not like to be treated by one who smoke in front of him, according to a survey.
Sixty-seven per cent of the respondents of the survey, conducted by city-based Heart Care Foundation, also believe doctors should have legible handwriting and favoured an electronic prescription.
The findings of the survey were made public by Foundation president Dr K K Aggarwal here today.
The survey claimed of the total 452 respondents, 46 per cent prefer calling their doctors directly and not his secretary to fix an appointment.
Almost 78 per cent people felt that the medical profession is becoming commercialised and should be made affordable for common man.
About 41 per cent of the respondents were of the opinion that doctors should charge less as their profession is a noble one.
The survey carried out in Delhi mostly among middle and upper middle class sections also said 57 per cent people check the credentials and qualifications of a doctor before visiting them.
Furthermore, the study said 60 per cent of the people are not comfortable in discussing their sexual behaviour with the doctor when they go for consultation. Forty per cent did not want to be friends with their doctors on Facebook.
Thirty-seven per cent respondents felt doctors should be well dressed, while 65 per cent believe that senior doctors with "grey hair" can provide better care than their younger counterparts, the study said.
The respondents included patients, social workers, college students, morning walkers and government employees.
"The survey is done to assess the perception of doctor- patient relationship among people...I have seen disputes between patients and doctors. I have tried to analyse the complaints of the patients. As a doctor, I wanted to know their expectations. The idea of conducting this survey thus came to my mind," Aggarwal said.
