Talking Digital Art With The Doctor

A partnership between graphic artists and doctors may sound a bizarre union but it could form the basis of a new way of educating patients.

Graphic artists are turning medical images from 3D anatomical scans into less formidable forms to then allow doctors to use the images in order to help educate patients far more effectively in understanding their illness and course of treatment.

According to a news report on BBC News Online, the results which have emerged from the trials of the programme show a deepening of dialogue between the patients and their care givers.

One such area that the system has been used in so far is in the raising of awareness among diabetics who are have benefited from learning about the most serious side effects of their condition.

John McGhee, a PhD student and 3D computer artist from the University of Dundee, who directed the visualisation project told BBC News Online,

"Doctors talk shop, which can be difficult for patients to penetrate..….By producing simplified images from detailed MRI scans, for example, patients can get a far better grasp of what is happening inside them, how it came about, and what is being done about it”.

More meaningful dialogue 

The programme was initially trialled by studying 18 patients suffering from arteriosclerosis, an illness that causes hardening of the arteries which can, over time, lead to heart attacks and stroke.

The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether or not patients, of the average age of 71, could understand and comprehend what the images meant.

However, as the study progressed, the effectiveness of the system was seen in other areas as well. The images helped to evoke deeper and more meaningful dialogue between the doctor and the patient as well as communicating the salient information concerning their condition.

Subsequent discussions and appointments were also found to be far more fruitful due to the fact that the patient, having grasped more fully their condition and treatment, returned with better questions and a greater understanding of what was going on.

An Early Warning System

Related to this project, an early warning system for diabetics has also been initiated. Computer graphics derived from medical images are being used in order to prompt diabetics to be more vigilant concerning their health.

A five minute film has been produced which helps to explore the effect of diabetes on the retina. The film is the culmination of work by a team also from the University of Dundee, run by PhD student, Emma Fyfe.

In certain situations, sight can deteriorate as a result of diabetes causing abnormalities in the blood vessels which serve the retina. Therefore, it is important that diabetics have regular scans in order to monitor their health and catch the side effects at the earliest opportunity. The project does not promise a cure for this condition, but nonetheless acts as an effective form of prevention.

The Scottish Diabetes Group has been shown the film and there are plans of showing the film to other groups throughout the UK.

The research was shown off at the Siggraph computer graphics convention being held in San Diego, US from 5-9 August.

Source news article: 

BBC News Online, Digital art aids health checkups, 7^th August 2007

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