A study into the curious psychology of visiting the doctor has found that just seeing a doctor holding medical instruments inspires confidence.

A study by Curtin University's Health Innovation Research Institute has found that to increase patients' trust, doctors should wear a stethoscope and surround themselves with medical instruments.

Led by Professor Moyez Jiwa, the study aimed to find out if there was any scientific proof to the conventional belief that if we see someone who looks like a doctor, we are more likely to trust them and find them genuine.

"We couldn't find any research on this so we tested it with people who were waiting for prescriptions at a pharmacy," Prof Jiwa said.

"These were people who had fairly recently seen a doctor and were presented with pictures of a man. They didn't know anything about the man, and there were different images, some of which had instruments in the image, some didn't, some had combinations of objects."

"We discovered that if a stethoscope in particular appears on an image then we assume all sorts of things about that individual."

"We assume they are more trustworthy, more honest, more honourable, ethical and moral."

The research has implication for consultation delivered via video conference to regional areas.

"When people are consulting online it is important to recreate the experience of actually physically seeing a doctor."

"In that case you would only be relying on your visual sense and what you hear. It is valuable to have a stethoscope somewhere about your person, or in sight, to make people feel confident in the doctor."

Prof Jiwa, who also works as GP in Perth, says the healing properties of simply consulting a doctor when we are ill are well known, even if the doctor cannot actually provide any treatment.

"Often we go to see a doctor, not because we are seriously ill, but because we are looking for reassurance that there isn't anything seriously wrong."

"In order to allow your body to heal you have to create this impression with someone who understands, who is sympathetic, who knows enough and whose advice you can follow and will tell you that everything will be ok in the morning."

"Seeing the doctor is the magic. It is clearly related to our psyche."

The healing power of the 'medicine man' has been around since Imhotep, the doctor to the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, who, despite have no modern medicine, was reknowned for his skill as a healer.

It's got to do, Prof Jiwa says, with the powerful recollection we have with receiving medical treatment.

"It's how we associate it. We remember the stethoscope being put on our chest as a child and we associate that with the benevolent, kind person who gave you the medicine and made you better."

"With online developments, our relationship with the doctors is changing."

"There is research done in New Zealand on what doctors should wear. It suggested it is very important not to have a beard or an ear piercing if you are a man, no jeans or thongs or Bermuda shorts."

"Although there are people who will very happily go and see doctors who do all of those things."

"If you want the power of healing to be at its maximum, you have to be aware of what it is that helps the patient."

And he also warns that the power of imagery is open to abuse.

"It's all important for us to recognise that we can, in certain circumstances, be manipulated by charlatans."

"How many people have walked through a hospital with a stethoscope without being challenged?"

The research project was featured in the July issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.