title: [Santa Claus is perceived as reliable and friendly: results of the Danish Christmas 2013 survey].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have indicated that the population in general perceives doctors as reliable. In the present study perceptions of reliability and kindness attributed to another socially significant archetype, Santa Claus, have been comparatively examined in relation to the doctor.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 52 randomly chosen participants were shown a film, where a narrator dressed either as Santa Claus or as a doctor tells an identical story. Structured interviews were then used to assess the subjects' perceptions of reliability and kindness in relation to the narrator's appearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a strong inclination for Santa Claus being perceived as friendlier than the doctor (p = 0.053). However, there was no significant difference in the perception of reliability between Santa Claus and the doctor (p = 0.524).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positive associations attributed to Santa Claus probably cause that he is perceived friendlier than the doctor who may be associated with more serious and unpleasant memories of illness and suffering. Surprisingly, and despite him being an imaginary person, Santa Claus was assessed as being as reliable as the doctor.
authors.affiliation: Neurologisk Afdeling, Glostrup Hospital, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup. faisal@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Faisal Mohammad
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Anders Sode
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Carina Sleiborg
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Sofie Amalie
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Jørgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tranum-Jensen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hougaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D026686:Beneficence; D005260:Female; D006693:Holidays; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D035502:Trust