About Careers Internship MedBlog Contact us
Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Advertisement

Medical 'Selfies' Can Improve Doctor-Patient Relationship: Here's How

by Adeline Dorcas on June 29, 2019 at 3:35 PM
Medical 'Selfies' Can Improve Doctor-Patient Relationship: Here's How

Healthcare consumers are being empowered by sharing medical selfies, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Advertisement


Taking medical 'selfies' and sharing them with a doctor empowers and reassures healthcare consumers, and can improve doctor-patient relationships, a two-part study led by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia has found.
  • Former medical photographer Dr. Kara Burns conducted the research as part of her Ph.D. through the QUT Business School.
  • To gauge experiences with and attitudes to consumer-generated health photographs, Dr. Burns first interviewed 30 patients, clinicians, and carers.
  • The second study was a pilot trial with parents taking photos of their children's surgical wounds after they had undergone laparoscopic appendectomy at the Queensland Children's Hospital. 26 parents completed the study, receiving training and then taking photos every two days and emailing the photos to the hospital so that surgeons could review healing.
  • Parents said it improved their confidence in and satisfaction with the medical service, and taking the photos was a useful reminder for them to check how the surgical sites were healing.
Dr. Burns said the findings from the photographic trial supported conclusions drawn from the interview study.

"The first study asked a range of people what they think about the role of this kind of consumer-generated data, and the second study was to see how people engage with it, as there can be a difference between what people say they will do and what they will do," she said.
Advertisement

"But these two studies largely confirmed each other. Consumers feel this data is valuable, it helps them have a sense of autonomy in their care, improves their view of the service they are being provided, and it enhances the relationship between doctor and patient because there is a sense of mutual respect and communication.

"The parents who took part in the trial said they felt reassured and that the service was going above and beyond. They said normally the door feels shut when you leave a hospital, and providing the photos was a way to stay connected and contact the surgeon afterwards."

Dr. Burns said while for clinicians it may be difficult to integrate patient-generated data, such as photographs, video, or information from apps or body monitoring devices, into clinical records, medical professionals should consider it.

"This study adds to a body of research that shows there are benefits for clinicians and also for patients in engaging with this kind of patient or carer-generated information," she said.

"If doctors ignore it and don't engage, this research shows that it impacts the service experience and that some patients will switch doctors.

"In one case, a mum had a six-week-old baby who was constantly vomiting, and she felt no one was listening to her concerns. She was so unimpressed by the doctor's responses to her that she changed providers. When she took a video to the next doctor, they assessed that something was wrong and that her daughter needed surgery.

"My Health Record should also consider ways to integrate patient-generated health data. People have expressed concerns about privacy and accessibility, but giving them an option to upload their own information may give them a reason to use the portal, to be less fearful of it."

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Latest Research News

Connecting Genetic Variants to the Alzheimer's Puzzle
Researchers establish connections between Alzheimer's-linked genetic alterations and the functioning of brain cells.
Gene Therapy Sparks Spinal Cord Regeneration
Team at NeuroRestore introduces a groundbreaking gene therapy that has effectively promoted nerve regrowth and reconnection, post spinal cord injury.
Unlocking the Gut Microbiome's Influence on Bone Density
Scientists aim to pinpoint particular functional pathways affected by these bacteria that may have an impact on skeletal health.
Hop-Derived Compound Reduces Gut Microbe Linked to Metabolic Syndrome
Consuming a diet rich in saturated fats triggers persistent, low-level inflammation within the body, ultimately contributing to the onset of metabolic syndrome.
Breakthrough in Mosquitoes for Fighting Dengue Fever
Ae. aegypti mosquitoes are carriers of "arthropod-borne" or "arbo-" viruses, which encompass the dengue virus, yellow fever virus, Zika virus, and chikungunya virus.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
MediBotMediBot
Greetings! How can I assist you?MediBot
×

Medical 'Selfies' Can Improve Doctor-Patient Relationship: Here's How Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests