Even if the doctor is miles away from their usual in-person clinic or exam room, they should make it look like they're there, the study suggests.
The findings come from a survey that asked patients to react to seven different backgrounds behind a model physician, and to rate how knowledgeable, trustworthy, caring, approachable and professional the physician appeared in each, and how comfortable the patient would feel with that provider. It also asked them to consider each background for a first or returning appointment with a primary care or specialty provider.
But now, some clinics have created dedicated spaces for providers to sit in if they have telehealth appointments on days when they're also seeing patients in person. Some of those might be spaces shared with other clinicians, so a virtual background would also serve to reduce visual distractions. Houchens and colleagues including co-author Sanjay Saint, M.D., M.P.H., have previously published work on patients' preferences for what physicians wear during clinical encounters. Just like with video visit background, these seemingly superficial factors can actually make a difference in the patient experience, he says.
Another option is to create virtual backgrounds that will evoke these types of professional settings.