More About “Do Patients’ Photos Help Doctors?”
Including Patient Photo With Radiology Images Increases Length, Depth of Radiologist’s Report This Medscape report on the same study described in an earlier post, Do Patients’ Photos Help Doctors?, includes possible negative results, as noted in this except:
“There is a counter argument. Introducing a photo introduces physician bias,” he cautioned. “Without anonymity, there is bias…. The picture decreased objectivity because it clearly affected [the radiologists’ behavior],” Dr. Stern pointed out. “We’ve seen in previous studies that treatment options offered to the patient differ before and after a photo is included with imaging studies.”
In addition, an increase in incidental findings might not be a positive thing. “It can mean unwarranted testing with a substantial cost and possibly increased patient morbidity, such as in the case of a biopsy for a false-positive reading,” Dr. Stern cautioned.
“Finding incidental abnormalities can lead to adverse outcomes downstream. It can be a good thing, such as when extra cancers are detected, or it can be a bad thing, like an extensive work-up for benign findings.”
