Maul Lara Valeska, Jahn Anna Sophie, Pamplona Gustavo S P, Streit Markus, Gantenbein Lorena, Müller Simon, Nielsen Mia-Louise, Greis Christian, Navarini Alexander A, Maul Julia-Tatjana
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital/Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
JMIR Dermatol. 2023 Aug 11;6:e45384. doi: 10.2196/45384.
Teledermatology is currently finding its place in modern health care worldwide as a rapidly evolving field.
The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance of teledermatology compared to in-person consultation from the perspective of patients and professionals.
This multicenter, cross-sectional pilot study was performed at secondary and tertiary referral centers of dermatology in Switzerland from August 2019 to January 2020. A customized questionnaire addressing demographics and educational data, experience with telemedicine, and presumed willingness to replace in-patient consultations with teledermatology was completed by dermatological patients, dermatologists, and health care workers in dermatology.
Among a total of 664 participants, the ones with previous telemedicine experience (171/664, 25.8%) indicated a high level of overall experience with it (patients: 73/106, 68.9%, dermatologists: 6/8, 75.0%, and health care workers: 27/34, 79.4%). Patients, dermatologists, and health care workers were most likely willing to replace in-person consultations with teledermatology for minor health issues (353/512, 68.9%; 37/45, 82.2%; and 89/107, 83.2%, respectively). We observed a higher preference for telemedicine among individuals who have already used telemedicine (patients: P<.001, dermatologists: P=.03, and health care workers, P=.005), as well as among patients with higher educational levels (P=.003).
This study indicates that the preference for teledermatology has a high potential to increase over time since previous experience with telemedicine and a higher level of education were associated with a higher willingness to replace in-patient consultations with telemedicine. We assume that minor skin problems are the most promising issue in teledermatology. Our findings emphasize the need for dermatologists to be actively involved in the transition to teledermatology.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04495036; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04495036.
远程皮肤病学作为一个快速发展的领域，目前正在全球现代医疗保健中占据一席之地。
本研究的目的是从患者和专业人员的角度调查远程皮肤病学与面对面咨询相比的接受程度。
这项多中心横断面试点研究于2019年8月至2020年1月在瑞士的二级和三级皮肤科转诊中心进行。皮肤科患者、皮肤科医生和皮肤科医护人员完成了一份定制问卷，内容涉及人口统计学和教育数据、远程医疗经验以及假定的用远程皮肤病学替代门诊咨询的意愿。
在总共664名参与者中，有远程医疗经验的人（171/664，25.8%）表示总体经验水平较高（患者：73/106，68.9%；皮肤科医生：6/8，75.0%；医护人员：27/34，79.4%）。患者、皮肤科医生和医护人员最有可能愿意用远程皮肤病学替代轻微健康问题的面对面咨询（分别为353/512，68.9%；37/45，82.2%；89/107，83.2%）。我们观察到，已经使用过远程医疗的个体（患者：P<0.001；皮肤科医生：P=0.03；医护人员：P=0.005）以及教育水平较高的患者（P=0.003）对远程医疗的偏好更高。
本研究表明，由于以前的远程医疗经验和较高的教育水平与用远程医疗替代门诊咨询的更高意愿相关，随着时间的推移，对远程皮肤病学的偏好有很大的增加潜力。我们认为轻微皮肤问题是远程皮肤病学中最有前景的问题。我们的研究结果强调皮肤科医生需要积极参与向远程皮肤病学的转变。
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04495036；https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04495036 。
