Patients’ Preference for Doctors: Perceptions of Patients at a Hematology Clinic

Previous research has shown that when patients’ preferences are not met, it will affect their participation in clinical consultations. In fact, previous research has shown that patients’ participation has been associated with better health outcomes. Therefore, it is important to shed more light on factors that affect patients’ preferences for doctors. This paper will report on findings of an investigation into patients’ preference for doctors in clinical consultations at a Hematology Clinic in a government hospital in Malaysia. Findings suggest that patients prefer doctors who are responsive and caring, experienced, good communicators, with good reputation and also of the same ethnic group as the patient.