Bruce Arroll, professor, Stowe Alrutz, PhD candidate, Simon Moyes, statistician1Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New ZealandCorrespondence to: B Arroll bruce.arroll{at}auckland.ac.nzAccepted 7 November 2014 AbstractObjective To explore the basis for patient complaints about the oldness of most magazines in practice waiting