Store-and-forward teledermatology in a Spanish health area significantly increases access to dermatology expertise

BMC Prim Care. 2024 Jun 24;25(1):227. doi: 10.1186/s12875-024-02479-1.

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.

MAIN MEASURES: 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).

PMID:38914974 | DOI:10.1186/s12875-024-02479-1