Research found out that people who are active in sharing images with their doctor after or before consultations are more empowered. However, questions regarding its implementation remain.
Queensland University of Technology researcher Dr. Kara Burns who initiated the study also found out that the relationship between doctors and patients could also be fostered by the said activity.
As part of the research, Dr. Burns interviewed 30 respondents who are composed of patients, clinicians, and carers to assess their experiences regarding sharing photos. Moreover, the researchers conducted a trial of parents taking photos of their children’s surgery wounds after an appendectomy. The photos are then sent to the surgeons every two days for monitoring.
The study also concluded that the process improved the parents’ trust and satisfaction with the medical service. They are also optimistic that taking photos of the surgical sites is an effective way of them ensuring the healing of the wounds.
However, according to Dr. Burns, some clinicians share different views regarding the significance of patient-generated data.
She said that although the photo taking is a part of the patient story narrative, there is a research that told that a percentage of clinicians were skeptical regarding such matter.
The problem lies largely on its purpose as a primary method of diagnosis and whether it can be considered as a reliable data source.
As a part of the study, there are four GPs who participated as respondents to Dr. Burns. Dr. Burns remains to be firm that the process would be reliable as long as the patient data and other practical elements would be clarified.
She added that it is important to ask where is the data stored, the attachment of metadata to it and its categorisation of urgency to assess the different technological challenges.
Patients are consciously active in creating different sorts of data source, but it is the clinician who would assess its value.
It should also be considered if the clinician would actively participate in determining the useful type of data, the service experience can be greatly improved as well as the general clinical process.
A member of the RACGP Expert Committee Quality Care (REC-QC), Dr. Marguerite Tracy told that these so-called ‘digital medicines’ could be a greater element of general practice in the future. However, Dr. Tracy also anticipated and recognised that there are different structural changes especially on the aspect of data and patient privacy.
She added that up to this date, there is no other way for a GP to consider the management of the information being sent to them and it would be quite tricky to add the information to the clinical notes.
She told that the management of the information lies largely on the processes, remuneration, and technology in the future.
Dr. Tracy acknowledged the possible roles of software developers for these improvements as well as the potential help of the voluntary patient enrolment to remuneration.
According to Dr. Tracy, voluntary patient enrolment could cover other services that can be provided to patients, but it could be not viable to be considered right now as a response to remuneration.
However, she also affirms that the matter will have a role in the improvement of patient engagement in the future.
On the aspect of sending photos by the patients to their doctors, it could contribute to triaging of something which could also be of huge benefit, but only if these technologies are in place.
