Perception and acceptance of medical photography among Arab dermatology patients: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

Background: Medical photography has been utilized in clinical, academic, and research settings. In conservative countries, such as Saudi Arabia, limited data reflect patients’ viewpoints on medical photography. Objectives: To assess patients’ opinions on medical photography and the factors influencing its acceptability. Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a self-distributed paper-based questionnaire was performed in the dermatology clinics at King Abdulaziz Medical City (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) between February 2020 and January 2021. The response rate is 100% as only willing participants were handed a hard-copy survey and then retrieved once completed. Results: A total of 414 Saudi adults were enrolled. Medical photography was highly acceptable, fairly acceptable, and poorly acceptable in 36.7%, 11.6%, and 14.3% of the patients, respectively. Females were more accepting of medical photography than males (p = 0.041). Physicians were the most preferred choice as photographers (83%). Stating all intended use of the photographs was favored by the majority of patients. Using a department-owned camera was essential to 84%. Patients who never had their photographs taken previously were more unaccepting of medical photography than those with prior experience (p = 0.037). Limitations: the study was conducted at a single center; therefore, it may not represent the entire population. Conclusions: Medical photography is acceptable to the majority of patients. Meeting popular preferences, including physicians as photographers, using department-owned cameras, and stating all possible uses of the photographs may enhance patients’ experience. The findings offer insight for developing a standardized framework that is suitable for both patients and physicians.