Education
FSU study finds healthcare provider photos in waiting rooms can strengthen patient trust
Key Points
- Provider race and ethnicity influenced Black participants’ perceptions of fairness and communication skills, researchers found.
- The study suggests that simple, low-cost changes to healthcare settings could help strengthen patient-provider relationships.
A new Florida State University study finds that adding healthcare providers’ photographs to clinic welcome signs can strengthen certain aspects of patient trust before patients even meet their providers.
The study, “First Impressions Matter: The Influence of Provider Photographs on Medical Trust Among Minority Women,” was conducted by Amy Huber, professor and chair of FSU’s School of Design, and Rachel L. Bailey, James E. Kirk Professor of Communication. The researchers examined how provider photographs influence perceptions of trust among Black and Hispanic women.
Previous research has shown that medical trust plays a critical role in healthcare decisions among Black and Hispanic women. Huber and Bailey examined whether simple, low-cost design changes could strengthen provider-patient relationships and potentially contribute to better health outcomes.
“This study reinforces the idea that design does more than shape spaces; it shapes human experiences in important ways,” said Huber. “In every space where we spend time — in our homes, doctor’s offices, workplaces, airports — design impacts our decision making and affects the way we feel.”
The findings suggest that patients can begin forming trust in their healthcare providers before meeting them. The research also highlights how thoughtful waiting room design can improve the patient experience through simple, inexpensive changes.
The study included 343 responses from Black and Hispanic women in the United States, ages 18 to 44. Each participant viewed one of 12 randomly assigned images of clinic waiting rooms featuring different healthcare provider photographs. Participants then rated their perceptions of the provider using a measure of medical trust.
The researchers found that displaying provider photographs improved perceptions of providers’ commitment to patients. Black participants also rated providers of the same racial or ethnic background more favorably in fairness and communication skills. However, the study found no significant differences in overall trust based on provider identity. Among Hispanic participants, provider identity did not significantly affect trust ratings.
The study was published in the Health Environments Research & Design Journal.
To learn more about the FSU School of Design, visit Design.fsu.edu.
The FSU College of Communication and Information’s Wellness Communication Center is dedicated to advancing evidence-based wellness strategies that empower individuals and communities to achieve optimal health, resilience and longevity. Learn more at wcc.cci.fsu.edu.