Evaluation of a tele-expertise experiment for skin cancer detection: the perspective of GPs.

Background: The incidence of skin cancer has shown an increasing trend in the world and in France over the last four decades. In this context, the delay to access a specialist opinion strongly impacts the patient outcomes. However, the medical demographics of dermatologists in France have been decreasing over the past years. Hence, a tele-expertise (TLE) experiment for skin tumors detection, which allows general practitioners to obtain feedback from a dermatologist within 7 days using a smartphone application, has been set up in the Hauts-deFrance region since 2015. Thus, this study aims at understanding the advantages and drawbacks of TLE in the detection of skin tumors perceived by general practitioners. Methods: Exploratory study carried out with 15 general practitioners participating in the experiment in the Hauts-de-France region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between february and april 2021 and analyzed after transcription. Results: The main advantages perceived by general practitioners are: (i) fast access to a specialized feedback; (ii) formalization of the request and commitment of the dermatologist; (iii) ease of regulating patients to a specialist; (iv) lower travel frequency and stress for patients; (v) ability to send medical information securely. The drawbacks are most related to the lack of functionalities and the graphical user interface of the application. Conclusions: Tele-expertise is a well accepted technological innovation in dermatology among general practitioners, which enables the best use of the scarce medical resources available in the region and to address the needs of patients. The sustainability of TLE in dermatology and its extension to other territories is possible and desirable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]