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A new Florida State University study finds that adding health care providers' photographs to clinic welcome signs can strengthen certain aspects of patient trust before patients even meet their providers.

The study, "First Impressions Matter: The Influence of Provider Photographs on Medical Trust Among Minority Women," was conducted by Amy Huber, professor and chair of FSU's School of Design, and Rachel L. Bailey, James E. Kirk professor of communication and published in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal. The researchers examined how provider photographs influence perceptions of trust among Black and Hispanic women.

Previous research has shown that medical trust plays a critical role in health care decisions among Black and Hispanic women. Huber and Bailey examined whether simple, low-cost design changes could strengthen provider-patient relationships and potentially contribute to better health outcomes.

"This study reinforces the idea that design does more than shape spaces; it shapes human experiences in important ways," said Huber. "In every space where we spend time—in our homes, doctors' offices, workplaces, airports—design impacts our decision-making and affects the way we feel."

The findings suggest that patients can begin forming trust in their health care providers before meeting them. The research also highlights how thoughtful waiting room design can improve the patient experience through simple, inexpensive changes.

The study included 343 responses from Black and Hispanic women in the United States, ages 18 to 44.

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