"I didn't know you were such a good cook": Photos as a tool for primary care clinician-patient communication.
Evelyn Y Ho, Genevieve Leung, Jennifer Fung and 1 others
PMID 33176977WHAT IT FOUND
In 13 primary care interactions, patients and clinicians used food photos to discuss everyday constraints, then made diet suggestions or referrals.
Photo talk averaged 10:15 minutes, took 30% of visits, and was not always used.
Key findings
01In 8 of 13 interactions, photo talk was signposted early but not used at that moment.
02When photos were discussed, clinicians used them to make diet suggestions or refer to nutrition help.
03Photo-based communication averaged 10:15 minutes and took 30% of the visit.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small: 13 patient participants and 10 clinicians. The authors state the study was limited by its small sample size and audio-only data, so non-verbal interaction was not captured. Only patients able to use a smartphone or disposable camera and speak English, Chinese, or Spanish were included. The study observed communication, not patient health outcomes.
Declared interests
The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support; the article text gives no author conflict declaration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that photo sharing improves patient activation, diet, or health outcomes. It observed 13 interactions and measured no outcomes.