Store-and-forward teledermatology in a Spanish health area significantly increases access to dermatology expertise.
BMC Prim Care
; 25(1): 227, 2024 Jun 24.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38914974
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Teledermatology is the practice of dermatology through communication technologies. The aim of this study is to analyze its implementation in a Spanish health area during its first two years.METHODS:
Cross-sectional descriptive study. It included interconsultations between dermatologists and family physicians in the Salamanca Health Area (Spain) after the implementation of the non-face-to-face modality over a period of two consecutive years. A total of 25,424 consultations were performed (20,912 face-to-face and 4,512 non-face-to-face); 1000 were selected by random sampling, half of each modality. MAINMEASURES:
referral rate, response time and resolution time, type of pathology, diagnostic concordance, and quality of consultation.RESULTS:
The annual referral rate was 42.9/1000 inhabitants (35.3 face-to-face and 7.6 non-face- to-face). The rate of face-to-face referrals was higher in urban areas (37.1) and the rate of non- face-to-face referrals in rural areas (10.4). The response time for non-face-to-face consultations was 2.4 ± 12.7 days and 56 ± 34.8 days for face-to-face consultations (p < 0.001). The resolution rate for non-face-to-face consultations was 44%. Diagnostic concordance, assessed by the kappa index, was 0.527 for face-to-face consultations and 0.564 for non-face-to-face consultations. Greater compliance with the quality criteria in the non-attendance consultations.CONCLUSIONS:
Teledermatology appears to be an efficient tool in the resolution of dermatological problems, with a rapid, effective, and higher quality response for attention to skin pathologies. REGISTRY ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05625295. Registered on 21 November 2022 ( https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/ NCT05625295).Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Referral and Consultation
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Skin Diseases
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Telemedicine
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Dermatology
Limits:
Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Child
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Prim Care
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: