Clinical Photography During COVID-19 with a Selfie Stick and Smart Phone.

Abstract

Clinical Problem Clinical photography is an essential component and integral part of healthcare. These photographs are utilized in clinical documentation, record keeping, medical and surgical procedures, teaching, publication and research. Most often, a close proximity with the patient is unavoidable during clinical photography. With the current COVID-19 scenario, where world health organization (WHO) advocates maintaining social distancing (at least 1 m), it is difficult to take a clinical photograph (especially close-up picture of a lesion). The chance of transmission to and from the device has to be kept in mind and there is always a chance of getting self-infected through aerosol transmission.[1] Solution To avoid close proximity to the patients, a selfie stick can be put to use along with a smart phone. Taking all the universal precautions advised by world health organization (WHO), the smart phone could be mounted on the selfie stick. The stick is then extended to ascertain at least 1-m distance between the patient and the clinician [Figure 1]. The piece of selfie stick holding the phone is hinged and can be adjusted as desired. Depending on the selfie stick, the phone can be connected either with a cable or a Bluetooth. Holding it by both hands can minimize the shaking/tremor of the selfie stick. As the selfie stick and smart phone can become fomites for transmission of virus, after the photography, they should be cleaned with 60–90% isopropyl alcohol for at least 1 minute.[2] The length of selfie stick gives an idea about social distancing (>1 m) at all time during photography.Figure 1: Clinical photography of a patient with a selfie stick and smart phone, maintaining at least 1 m distance between patient and clinicianThough many smart phones with high-resolution cameras can capture good quality images from a distance, this technique gives an opportunity to take close up picture of lesions. In addition, it will be useful for those clinicians who don't have expensive, high-resolution camera smart phones. Stabilization of the selfie stick while clicking pictures will require some practice, because shaking/tremor of the selfie stick is possible even with both hands. The selfie-stick mounted smartphone can also be used by the patients to self-click pictures of difficult to access areas and use them for teledermatology consultations.[3] Declaration of patient consent The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient has given his consent for his images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patient understands that name and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal the identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed. Financial support and sponsorship Nil. Conflicts of interest There are no conflicts of interest. Acknowledgement The patient in this manuscript have given written informed consent to publication of their case details.