1. Mobile teledermatology: a feasibility study of 58 subjects using mobile phones
- Author
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Rainer Hofmann-Wellenhof, Elisabeth M. T. Wurm, H. Peter Soyer, Christoph Ebner, Cesare Massone, Gian Piero Lozzi, Barbara Binder, Harald Kittler, and Gerald Gabler
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Teledermatology ,Telemedicine ,Adolescent ,Health Informatics ,Physical examination ,Skin Diseases ,Patient acceptance ,Patient satisfaction ,medicine ,Humans ,Physical Examination ,Referral and Consultation ,Reimbursement ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,Remote Consultation ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Dermatology ,Triage ,Patient Satisfaction ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,Medical emergency ,business ,Cell Phone - Abstract
Summary We investigated the diagnostic agreement between teledermatology based on images from a mobile phone camera and face-to-face (FTF) dermatology. Diagnostic agreement was assessed for two teledermatologists (TD) in comparison with FTF consultations in 58 subjects. In almost three-quarters of the cases (TD1: 71%; TD2: 76%), the telediagnosis was fully concordant with the FTF diagnosis. Furthermore, the diagnosed diseases were almost all in the same diagnostic category (TD1: 97%; TD2: 90%). If mobile teledermatology had been used for remote triage, TD1 could have treated 53% subjects remotely and 47% subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF. TD2 could have treated 59% subjects remotely, whereas 41% subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF. Forty-eight subjects responded to a questionnaire, of whom only 10 had any concerns regarding teledermatology. Thirty-one subjects stated that they would be willing to pay to use a similar service in future and suggested an amount ranging from €5 to €50 per consultation (mean €22) (€ = £0.7, US $1.4). These results are encouraging as patient acceptance and reimbursement represent potential obstacles to the implementation of telemedicine services.
- Published
- 2008