<p>Doctors who sport medical symbols like stethoscope are more likely to win their patient’s trust than those who do not, a new study on e-consultation has found.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study found that doctors seeking to earn their clients’ trust while conducting e-consultations should wear a stethoscope and surround themselves with “iconic” medical tools. The six-month e-health project was undertaken by researchers at the Curtin University Health Innovation Research Institute. Researchers investigated the process of providing e-consultations, and whether the presence of “iconic” medical symbols like a stethoscope, surgical scrubs or a reflex hammer would help doctors build a relationship of trust online.<br /><br />In the study, a series of images portraying different combinations of medical tools were shown to 168 people who ranked them by how trustworthy they looked.<br /><br />The stethoscope was ranked the most positive by participants, receiving a rating of 95 per cent.<br /><br />Words associated with the medical device included honest, trustworthy, honourable, moral, ethical and genuine.<br /><br />“We have doctor shortages across Australia, especially in rural regions, and we know that more doctors will be providing e-consultations to clients in an attempt to respond to the increasing demand for medical advice,” Professor Moyez Jiwa, Chair of CHIRI Chronic Disease and research leader, said.<br /><br />“Applications are being developed in this area every day, so it’s really important when images of doctors or health professionals are used that a stethoscope is worn to build a relationship of trust.” Jiwa said in a statement. <br /></p>
<p>Doctors who sport medical symbols like stethoscope are more likely to win their patient’s trust than those who do not, a new study on e-consultation has found.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The study found that doctors seeking to earn their clients’ trust while conducting e-consultations should wear a stethoscope and surround themselves with “iconic” medical tools. The six-month e-health project was undertaken by researchers at the Curtin University Health Innovation Research Institute. Researchers investigated the process of providing e-consultations, and whether the presence of “iconic” medical symbols like a stethoscope, surgical scrubs or a reflex hammer would help doctors build a relationship of trust online.<br /><br />In the study, a series of images portraying different combinations of medical tools were shown to 168 people who ranked them by how trustworthy they looked.<br /><br />The stethoscope was ranked the most positive by participants, receiving a rating of 95 per cent.<br /><br />Words associated with the medical device included honest, trustworthy, honourable, moral, ethical and genuine.<br /><br />“We have doctor shortages across Australia, especially in rural regions, and we know that more doctors will be providing e-consultations to clients in an attempt to respond to the increasing demand for medical advice,” Professor Moyez Jiwa, Chair of CHIRI Chronic Disease and research leader, said.<br /><br />“Applications are being developed in this area every day, so it’s really important when images of doctors or health professionals are used that a stethoscope is worn to build a relationship of trust.” Jiwa said in a statement. <br /></p>