Facing Clinical Trials - Unlocking facial clues

The photograph will be administered by Ms Lyn Schofield ( RN, PhD) or another similarly trained project officer. The camera operator will be fully versed in the use of a DSLR camera. This involves making sure the camera is set to automatic operation and that the range finder is functional. Once these checks are made, the operator assesses the environment and places the participant in position that ensures that they, and if necessary the parent or carer, are comfortable. If necessary, hair is moved off the face and a hair clip or headband is used to ensure that a clear vision of the face is obtained. When the environment is satisfactory, the operator presses the shutter button and the flash fires. Apart from positioning the participant, this is a non-touch procedure. Once the image is taken, the operator assesses the fidelity of the image on the camera screen. Alternatively, if the camera is tethered to a laptop computer, the image can similarly be assessed. Points to check are that an optimal line of vision is obtained ie clear ear-to-ear line of site, with no or minimal artefact. If the image is not satisfactory, adjustments are made to the environment, or the participant is re-positioned in order to rectify errors. The image can be shown to the participant and/or parent/carer if they are interested in seeing the resulting image. Determination of the frequency of imaging will be made on a case by case basis, depending on the condition and the type and length of treatment. For example, a typical series would be images at T 0, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years.