Diagnosing skin neglected tropical diseases with the aid of digital health tools: A scoping review

Abstract

Delays in diagnosis and detection of skin neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) pose obstacles to prompt treatment, which is crucial in preventing disability. Recent developments in digital health have given rise to approaches that could increase access to diagnosis in resource-poor areas affected by skin NTDs. This scoping review provides an overview of current digital health approaches that aim to aid in the diagnosis of skin NTDs and provides an insight into the diverse functionalities of current digital health tools, their feasibility, usability, and the current gaps in research around these digital health approaches. This scoping review included a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS, following the PRISMA guidelines. Eleven studies were included in the review and were analysed using a descriptive thematic approach. Most digital tools were found to be mobile-phone based, such as mobile Health (mHealth) apps, store-and-forward tele-dermatology, and Short Messaging Service (SMS) text-messaging. Other digital approaches were based on computer software, such as tele-dermatopathology, computer-based telemedicine, and real-time tele-dermatology. Digital health tools commonly facilitated provider-provider interactions, which helped support diagnoses of skin NTDs at the community level. Articles which focused on end-user user experience reported that users appreciated the usefulness and convenience of these digital tools. However, the results emphasized the existing lack of data regarding the diagnostic precision of these tools, and highlighted various hurdles to their effective implementation, including insufficient infrastructure, data security issues and low adherence to the routine use of digital health tools. Digital health tools can help ascertain diagnosis of skin NTDs through remote review or consultations with patients, and support health providers in the diagnostic process. However, further research is required to address the data security issues associated with digital health tools. Developers should consider adapting digital health tools to diverse socio-cultural and technical environments, where skin NTDs are endemic. Researchers are encouraged to assess the diagnostic accuracy of digital health tools and conduct further qualitative studies to inform end-user experience. Overall, future studies should consider expanding the geographical and disease scope of research on digital health tools which aid the diagnosis of skin NTDs.