Sam Polesie, an associate professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and a dermatologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, has led a significant study on visualising patient conditions in scientific research.
Polesie emphasises a crucial shift in patient care, highlighting the increased empowerment of patients in their healthcare decisions. This participatory approach necessitates healthcare professionals to make treatment decisions with their patients. However, Polesie observes that scientific literature has not fully embraced these changes. He advocates for including more patient images in scientific publications to facilitate communication, asserting that the intricate figures currently used can be daunting for patients to comprehend, particularly when describing the severity of conditions or the potential effects of treatments. This shift could significantly empower patients in their healthcare journey.
The study, which also involved Danish researchers, revealed concerning statistics about the representation of patients in scientific journals, particularly those with psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Despite reviewing 60 studies encompassing nearly 18,000 patients, only 16 images from six patients were used across these publications, equating to a mere 0.3 per thousand of the depicted patients.
Atopic dermatitis, a familiar yet variably severe chronic inflammatory skin disease, affects about 25% of children and 10% of adults. It can cause dry, itchy skin patches and severely impact a person’s quality of life in more severe cases. Polesie explains that the appearance of eczema varies significantly across different skin tones. In lighter-skinned individuals, eczema may appear red, while in those with melanin-rich skin, it tends to show up darker, often perceived as purple or greyish. This variability makes the need for diverse patient images in educational materials even more critical.
According to Polesie, there’s an urgent need to expand the visual resources available in medical education. He proposes that having a comprehensive set of images illustrating various types of atopic dermatitis across different patient groups and their responses to treatments would significantly enhance the training of healthcare professionals and medical students and also aid in educating patients themselves. This aligns with international recommendations and guidelines emphasising patient education’s importance in managing atopic dermatitis. This could open up new opportunities for healthcare professionals and medical students to enhance their understanding and skills in dermatology.
Moreover, more images are needed to improve patient education and care and hinder the advancement of artificial intelligence in dermatology. Machine learning algorithms necessitate extensive datasets of images to be effectively trained. With more comprehensive image collections, these AI systems could revolutionise dermatology, assisting dermatologists in identifying the most effective treatment options tailored to individual patients shortly. This presents an exciting prospect for the future of dermatological care.
Polesie’s findings, published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment, underscore a significant gap in integrating visual aids in scientific documentation and education concerning dermatological conditions. If addressed, this gap could enhance patient understanding, participation, and the effectiveness of treatment regimens.
More information: Sam Polesie et al, A systematic review investigating the proportion of clinical images shared in prospective randomized controlled trials involving patients with atopic dermatitis and systemic pharmacotherapy, Journal of Dermatological Treatment. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2024.2338280
Journal information: Journal of Dermatological Treatment Provided by University of Gothenbur
