Patient Satisfaction and Expectations Regarding Mobile Teledermoscopy in General Practice for Diagnosis of Non-melanoma Skin Cancer and Malignant Melanoma

Abstract

Mobile teledermoscopy enables enlarged photographs of suspicious skin changes to be taken in general practice and sent for evaluation by a specialist. Patient satisfaction and expectations regarding this new diagnostic method need to be evaluated before implementation. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate patient satisfaction and expectations regarding mobile teledermoscopy, and to identify factors influencing patient satisfaction and choice of diagnostic method. A total of 287 out of 476 participants responded to the questionnaire. Almost 90% of respondents in this study were satisfied with, or neutral towards, mobile teledermoscopy. Respondents equally preferred mobile teledermoscopy or seeing the dermatologist faceto-face, but mobile teledermoscopy was preferred among respondents with a high level of smartphone usage. There is an increasing incidence of skin cancer and melanoma, which calls for alternative ways to diagnose these diseases. Patient satisfaction with teledermoscopy will make implementation more successful. The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer and malignant melanoma is increasing. Diagnosing these skin lesions is primarily done visually, making it suitable to use new technology, such as teledermoscopy. Before the implementation of teledermoscopy, patient satisfaction, clinician satisfaction and diagnostic accuracy, need to be evaluated. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted to evaluate patient satisfaction and expectations regarding a mobile teledermoscopy service, and to identify factors influencing patient satisfaction and choice of diagnostic method. A total of 287 out of 476 participants responded to the questionnaire. Almost 90% of respondents were satisfied with, or neutral towards, teledermoscopy. No associations between patient satisfaction and age, smartphone/tablet usage, travel time, prior history of non-melanoma skin cancer and malignant melanoma, or worries about malignancy, were found. There was equal distribution between patients who preferred tele dermoscopy and those who preferred face-to-face consultation. Respondents with a high level of smartphone usage significantly preferred teledermoscopy.

Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium

“…Finally, patients were highly satisfied with the TELESPOT project (global satisfaction: 8.8/ 10), although use of telemedicine and teledermatology is not yet part of their daily life in Belgium. Our results are in line with other studies reporting patient satisfaction levels of 58.5% [16].…”

Acceptance of Teledermoscopy by General Practitioners and Dermatologists in Denmark

“…Satisfaction of both patient and provider is believed to be an important factor in the successful implementation of novel technologies [8,9]. We previously reported that almost 90% of patients were satisfied with, or neutral towards, the use of teledermoscopy [10].…”

Teledermoscopy – An Emerging Technology for Skin Cancer Detection

“…10,26 Teledermoscopy appears to effectively triage 'spot checks', sending the most concerning lesions to be seen in-person quickly, while reassuring clearly benign lesions that might allow patients to avoid an in-person encounter altogether. [35][36][37][38][39] For those patients without ready access to a dermatologist due to financial or geographic limitation, teledermoscopy may afford the only opportunity for early detection of cutaneous malignancies. 40,41 A recent study by Sangeeta et al in 2019 compared the effectiveness of FTF workflows with teledermoscopy in the diagnosis of skin cancer.…”