Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Study of patients’ satisfaction toward photographing their skin lesions for educational purposes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Ali Amirian
. Mitra Amini 1
. Mohammad Mahdi Sagheb 1
. Mehdi Ghahartars 2
. Razieh Neshatavar 3
. Parinaz Tabari 1
. Mahsa Moosavi 1

1 Clinical Education Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran,

3 Education Development Office, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical images have been widely used for various aims, especially for the
educational purposes. Patient confidentiality and consent should be deemed crucial. In this study,
we sought to assess patients’ satisfaction with taking medical photos of their skin lesions and giving
their physicians consent to use them for educational purposes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This multi‑method study included quantitative and qualitative phases
and was performed from April to November 2018 in the Dermatology Department of Shiraz Faghihi
Hospital in South Iran. Demographic information was analyzed using the descriptive statistics. To
resolve the simultaneous effect of demographic variables on patient satisfaction, we conducted linear
regression. All the tests were analyzed at the 0.05 significance level.
RESULTS: In this study, all the patients except one (99.5%) preferred that only a physician who had a
direct role in their care can access their digital photos. Of 200 patients, 134 patients (62.33%) preferred
the utilization of hospital cameras in photographing their skin lesions (P = 0.002). On the other hand,
131 patients (49.81%) did not gave consent about using a personal phone camera for photographing
their skin lesions (P = 0.001). In the qualitative phase, two major themes (trusting attending physician
and paying attention to patient confidentiality) and five sub‑themes (considering their physicians
as professional people who always do the right thing, allowing physicians to use their images for
educational purposes, covering patient’s face, using hospital cameras, and obtaining informed consent
from patients) were derived from qualitative semi‑structured interviews.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that there is a need for developing international and national
photography guidelines in the era of technology development.

Keywords

Confidentiality
dermatology
informed consent
patient rights
photography
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 11, Issue 7
August 2021
Pages 1-6

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