Patient cost analysis of a community-based teledermatology service versus conventional outpatient appointments in East Kent: a retrospective study through a societal lens to reduce health inequalities.

Background: The UK's National Health Service (NHS) is grappling with rising demand and limited dermatologists, leading to longer waiting times. This is particularly concerning for conditions like malignant melanoma, where early diagnosis is crucial. Teledermatology is being introduced to address these issues, but its impact on patients' monetary and time costs, especially in deprived areas, is under-researched.

Barriers to establishing teledermatoscopy in primary health care in Sweden.

Introduction: Teledermatoscopy (TDS) has proven to be effective and reliable for diagnosis of skin malignancies. The factors that determine the success of implementation of TDS are largely unknown.

Objectives: To investigate barriers to implementation of TDS in primary health care (PHC) at center and individual level.

Rural access to dermatology services: a call to action.

This commentary underscores the urgent issue of limited access to dermatologic care in rural areas, leading to adverse health outcomes. With only 10% of dermatologists practicing in rural America, the "rural mortality penalty" contributes to escalating morbidity and mortality. Disparities in dermatologist distribution, particularly in minority-majority counties with lower incomes, worsen health inequities.

Community Outreach Benefits Dermatology Residents and Their Patients.

Community outreach is an important aspect of residency training. Skin cancer screenings, free clinics, and teledermatology are a few ways in which dermatology residents may take leadership roles and get involved in their local communities. These opportunities not only provide invaluable education for residents, they also deliver specialty care to communities that may otherwise encounter considerable difficulty accessing dermatologic care.

Diagnostic stewardship and dermatology consultation in cellulitis management: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Cellulitis is a common skin infection often requiring antibiotic treatment. However, misdiagnosis and inappropriate antibiotic use contribute to antibiotic resistance and healthcare costs. We aimed to evaluate the impact of dermatology consultation on treatment modification in patients with suspected cellulitis and to determine whether dermatologists' evaluation can be used as a reference to diagnose suspected cellulitis.

Macro vs Micro Skin Imaging: Finding an Affordable Approach for Dermatological Care Access in Rural/Remote Areas.

The present study explored alternative methods for photographing skin lesions in the absence of specialized instruments like dermatoscopes, aiming to enhance remote diagnostic capabilities, particularly in light of the increasing incidence of melanoma cases annually. Using two lenses attached to a smartphone camera, one macroscopic and the other microscopic, study images of nevus formations from one individual were captured, and, in the absence of a collaboration with a dermatologist, subsequently labeled as melanoma or non-melanoma using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) which was trained, with dermoscopic images of melanoma and non-melanoma formations, to see on which image set better performances would be attained. The CNN demonstrated better performance on microscopic images, with 75% of the dataset being labeled correctly, compared to the macroscopic one, with 63% of the dataset being labeled correctly.

A review of consent policies in Dermatological Surgery in the United Kingdom and the impact of leaner pathways and teledermatology on consent.

Obtaining valid consent is an ethical and legal requirement in clinical practice, ensuring patients are adequately informed about their treatments. Recent updates in consent policies, including GMC guidance, the Patterson inquiry report, and key legal rulings like Montgomery, emphasise a shift towards patient-centred care and the importance of a comprehensive patient-clinician dialogue. Budget constraints and increasing NHS demand have led to the adoption of digital solutions and streamlined pathways, such as teledermatology and direct booking to surgery, potentially compromising the consent process.

Increased use of Dermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Following the Implementation of Teledermatology in Southeast Sweden: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 2,137 Patients.

In the last 5 decades there has been a steady increase in skin cancer incidence globally. As patients wait for treatment before or after referral, the prognosis for those with melanoma worsens. Teledermatology was introduced to help reduce waiting times.

The screening and management of skin diseases in remote African regions: a narrative review.

Introduction: Skin diseases in remote African regions are often exacerbated due to a lack of resources and expertise with little current research addressing the challenges that patients and healthcare systems experience. Although skin diseases in remote African regions are prevalent and pose a substantial health burden, they remain neglected and understudied. This review aims to explore current challenges in the diagnosis and management of skin diseases in African regions and focus on the need for enhanced understanding and improved healthcare strategies.

Teledermatology and Virtual Visits for Acne Management: A Review.

Acne vulgaris is a common dermatological condition requiring individualized management. Teledermatology provides convenience and accessibility that is highly suitable for this dermatological condition. Herein, our review aimed to describe the current state of teledermatology in the context of acne management and to assess patient satisfaction, adherence to virtual care, and the experiences of health care providers in delivering remote dermatological services.

Evaluation of Rheumatologists' Teledermatology Practices and Perspectives.

Objective: In their regular practice, rheumatologists often come across patients with skin and nail abnormalities, so they need dermatology consultations. A new option available today is the use of telemedicine for dermatology consultations. The aim of this study is to assess how frequently rheumatologists use this method, known as teledermatology (TD), and to investigate their perspectives.

Experience, knowledge, practices and attitudes of emergency department medical staff regarding teledermatology.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess self-reported experience, knowledge, practices and attitudes of ED medical staff regarding teledermatology.

Methods: Online questionnaire of ED medical staff at Prince of Wales Hospital (Sydney, Australia).

Results: Seventy-nine staff completed the questionnaire.

Pediatric teledermatology: Evaluation of a store-and-forward network in Ile-de-France from 2013 to 2022: Pediatric teledermatology, a store-and-forward network.

Background: Teledermatology has been widely deployed over the past decade in France, becoming an indispensable tool in daily practice. Pediatric dermatology is a subspecialty of dermatology limited to a small number of specialists. In 2013, the Argenteuil Hospital developed a structured store-and-forward (SAF) service that is particularly well-suited for the field of pediatric dermatology.

Towards 'Formalising' WhatsApp Teledermatology Practice in KZ-N District Hospitals: Key Informant Interviews.

Introduction: District hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, do not have onsite specialist dermatology services. Doctors at these hospitals use WhatsApp instant messaging to informally seek advice from dermatologists and colleagues before possible referral. They have expressed the need to formalise WhatsApp teledermatology.

Bridging the gap through telemedicine: Pilot study on the acceptance and use of teledermatology for urticaria.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) significantly impairs patients' quality of life. Despite advances in diagnosis and therapy, treatment is still unsatisfactory. Telemedicine offers a promising solution to improve treatment.

Challenges in Teledermoscopy Diagnostic Outcome Studies: Scoping Review of Heterogeneous Study Characteristics.

Background: Teledermoscopy has demonstrated benefits such as decreased costs and enhanced access to dermatology care for skin cancer detection. However, the heterogeneity among teledermoscopy studies hinders the systematic reviews' synopsis of diagnostic outcomes, impeding trust and adoption in general practice and limiting overall health care benefits.

Objective: This study aims to improve understanding and standardization of teledermoscopy diagnostic studies, by identifying and categorizing study characteristics contributing to heterogeneity.

Participant Motivators and Expectations in the MEL-SELF Randomized Clinical Trial of Patient-Led Surveillance for Recurrent Melanoma: Content Analysis of Survey Responses.

Background: Limited data exist on the motivations and expectations of participants when enrolling in dermatology clinical trials, including melanoma early detection trials. Understanding participant motivators for research engagement has been identified as a prioritized area for trial methodology research.

Objective: The study aimed to determine motivators of participation and expectations from trial involvement among patients enrolled in the MEL-SELF randomized clinical trial of patient-led surveillance for new or recurrent melanoma.

Assessing the Impact of ChatGPT in Dermatology: A Comprehensive Rapid Review.

: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in dermatology is expanding rapidly, with ChatGPT, a large language model (LLM) from OpenAI, showing promise in patient education, clinical decision-making, and teledermatology. Despite its potential, the ethical, clinical, and practical implications of its application remain insufficiently explored. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness, challenges, and future prospects of ChatGPT in dermatology, focusing on clinical applications, patient interactions, and medical writing.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Teledermatology Units in Primary Care Centers Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology Consultations in the Hospital.

Objective: To perform an economic evaluation to determine whether or not teledermatology (TD) units in primary care (PC) centers offer an alternative in terms of cost-utility and cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) to conventional dermatology consultations (face-to-face dermatology [F-F/D]) at the hospital from the perspective of the Public Health System (PHS) and the patients.

Methods: This is a randomized, controlled, nonblinded, and multicenter study. During 6 months, data from 450 patients (TD: 225 vs.