Realtime teleconsultations versus face-to-face consultations in dermatology: immediate and six-month outcome

Abstract

We evaluated the outcome of both realtime teleconsultations and face-to-face consultations in dermatology. Forty-six patients were enrolled in an open controlled study. Twenty-nine patients (60%) answered the questionnaire sent to them after six months. Over the six-month follow-up, similar proportions of the two patient groups had visited a general practitioner or a specialist in the consulting hospital. At follow-up, overall patient satisfaction with the consultation, measured on a linear analogue scale (0-10), had fallen only slightly and to the same extent after both types of consultation, that is by 1.2 (SD 3.7) after realtime teleconsultations and by 1.4 (SD 4.5) after face-to-face consultations. The proportions of patients who would prefer the same mode of consultation for their next appointment had decreased from 83% to 50% in the realtime teleconsultation group and from 83% to 62% in the face-to-face consultation group. However, in neither group was the change significant. The study suggests that patient satisfaction with teleconsultation is well preserved after six months.

Teledermatology for diagnosis and management of skin conditions: A systematic review

“…In the one study that included teledermatology and clinic dermatology groups (nonrandomized), a significantly greater number of patients (96% vs 83%, P = .03) reported they were satisfied with teledermatology than with clinic dermatology. 58 The median satisfaction rating (on a scale of 0-10) was also higher for the teledermatology group (9.6 vs 9.0, P = .03). Of the 3 studies without a comparison group, the reported satisfaction ratings were 44%, 46 88%, 64 and 92%.…”

“…11,56,59 One nonrandomized study reported greater satisfaction with teledermatology. 58 One repeated measures study reported greater satisfaction with clinic dermatology, however, the clinic dermatology patients in that study had already been seen via SAF teledermatology. 17 Patient preference.…”

“…We identified 3 studies that reported clinical course for patients evaluated with either teledermatology or clinic dermatology (Table VII; available online at http://www.eblue.org). [56][57][58] Although different methods and time points were J AM ACAD DERMATOL VOLUME 64,NUMBER 4 used for determining clinical course, two of the studies suggested that clinical course was more favorable after teledermatology.…”

Tele‐Derm National: A decade of teledermatology in rural and remote Australia

“…[26][27][28][29] There have been a handful of programs analysing the efficacy of follow-up protocols, including photographs, questionnaires and the requirement for face-to-face dermatology. [30][31][32][33][34] These follow-up protocols can be time-consuming and often not practical for a doctor managing a busy rural practice. The requirement of the patient to travel to a city centre to visit a Dermatology Clinic for follow-up can defeat the purpose of provision of teledermatology to the rural and remote communities.…”

Users and Nonusers of University-Based Dermatology Services Following a Teledermatology Encounter: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis

“…The number of patients seen in follow-up is much lower than previous reports, and this may be due, in large part, to the statewide nature of the network. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Patients who received a teleconsultation remote from the university could have the ability to seek specialty care from providers and clinics closer to their home. Another possibility for the low in-person university-based follow-up rates may be due to referring clinicians using the network to receive advice rather than as a mechanism of actual referral of the patients.…”