Standardising and assessing digital images for use in clinical trials: a practical, reproducible method that blinds the assessor to treatment allocation.
With the increasing availability of high quality digital cameras that are easily operated by the non-professional photographer, the utility of using digital images to assess endpoints in clinical research of skin lesions has growing acceptance. However, rigorous protocols and description of experiences for digital image collection and assessment are not readily available, particularly for research conducted in remote settings. We describe the development and evaluation of a protocol for digital image collection by the non-professional photographer in a remote setting research trial, together with a novel methodology for assessment of clinical outcomes by an expert panel blinded to treatment allocation.
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia.
Asha C
AC
Bowen
Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia; School of Business, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Kara
K
Burns
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia.
Steven Y C
SY
Tong
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
Ross M
RM
Andrews
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
Robyn
R
Liddle
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
Irene M
IM
O'Meara
Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
Darren W
DW
Westphal
Telethon Kids Institute for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia.
Jonathan R
JR
Carapetis
D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D007169:Impetigo / Q000473:pathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000473:pathology*