Early Assessment on the Impact of Virtual Backgrounds on Patient Perceptions in Telemedicine.

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine is widely used, yet nonverbal cues such as virtual backgrounds remain understudied despite their potential influence on patient perceptions of provider credibility. Methods: This study used a randomized experimental design to examine the impact of three telemedicine background conditions, clinical, home office, and plain white, on patient ratings of provider expertness, competence, and ethicality. Participants (N = 136) were recruited from a large Midwestern university and completed a postvideo survey. Results: Analysis of variance results showed significant effects of background type on all three credibility measures. Providers in the white background condition were consistently rated lower in expertness, competence, and ethicality compared with the clinical and home office backgrounds. Conclusions: Findings suggest virtual backgrounds convey meaningful professional cues. Clinical and home office settings enhanced perceptions of provider credibility, while plain backgrounds diminished them. Background choice in telemedicine influences patient trust, underscoring the need for visual professionalism guidelines in virtual care settings.