Abstract
Background: Many patients with chronic skin diseases lack regular access to dermatologists in the United States and suffer poor clinical outcomes. Introduction: We performed a 12-month randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an online, collaborative connected health (CCH) model for psoriasis management on access to specialty care. Materials and Methods: The 300 enrolled patients were randomized to online or in-person care. We compared distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time between the two groups and obtained patient and provider perspectives on CCH. Results: At baseline, no differences existed between the groups in difficulties obtaining specialty care. Over 12 months, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) distance traveled to and from appointments was 174.8 (±577.4) km/person for the in-person group and 2.2 (±14.2) km/person for the online group (p = 0.0003). The mean (SD) time spent on transportation and in-office waiting for in-person appointments was 4.0 (±4.5) h/person for the in-person group and 0.1 (±0.4) h/person for the online group (p = 0.0001). Patients found CCH to be safe, accessible, equitable, efficient, effective, and patient-centered. Providers found CCH to be useful for providing psoriasis care. Discussion: The CCH model resulted in significantly less distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time compared to in-person care. Both patients and providers were highly satisfied with CCH. Conclusions: The CCH model resulted in increased access to specialty care and enabled patient-centered, safe, and effective management of psoriasis patients.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 619-627 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Telemedicine and e-Health |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- dermatology
- teledermatology
- telehealth
- telemedicine
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Informatics
- Health Information Management
Cite this
Access to Dermatological Care with an Innovative Online Model for Psoriasis Management : Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial. / Ford, Adam R.; Gibbons, Caitlin M.; Torres, Josefina; Kornmehl, Heather A.; Singh, Sanminder; Young, Paulina M.; Chambers, Cynthia; Maverakis, Emanual Michael; Dunnick, Cory A.; Armstrong, April W.
In: Telemedicine and e-Health, Vol. 25, No. 7, 01.07.2019, p. 619-627.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Access to Dermatological Care with an Innovative Online Model for Psoriasis Management
T2 - Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial
AU - Ford, Adam R.
AU - Gibbons, Caitlin M.
AU - Torres, Josefina
AU - Kornmehl, Heather A.
AU - Singh, Sanminder
AU - Young, Paulina M.
AU - Chambers, Cynthia
AU - Maverakis, Emanual Michael
AU - Dunnick, Cory A.
AU - Armstrong, April W.
PY - 2019/7/1
Y1 - 2019/7/1
N2 - Background: Many patients with chronic skin diseases lack regular access to dermatologists in the United States and suffer poor clinical outcomes. Introduction: We performed a 12-month randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an online, collaborative connected health (CCH) model for psoriasis management on access to specialty care. Materials and Methods: The 300 enrolled patients were randomized to online or in-person care. We compared distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time between the two groups and obtained patient and provider perspectives on CCH. Results: At baseline, no differences existed between the groups in difficulties obtaining specialty care. Over 12 months, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) distance traveled to and from appointments was 174.8 (±577.4) km/person for the in-person group and 2.2 (±14.2) km/person for the online group (p = 0.0003). The mean (SD) time spent on transportation and in-office waiting for in-person appointments was 4.0 (±4.5) h/person for the in-person group and 0.1 (±0.4) h/person for the online group (p = 0.0001). Patients found CCH to be safe, accessible, equitable, efficient, effective, and patient-centered. Providers found CCH to be useful for providing psoriasis care. Discussion: The CCH model resulted in significantly less distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time compared to in-person care. Both patients and providers were highly satisfied with CCH. Conclusions: The CCH model resulted in increased access to specialty care and enabled patient-centered, safe, and effective management of psoriasis patients.
AB - Background: Many patients with chronic skin diseases lack regular access to dermatologists in the United States and suffer poor clinical outcomes. Introduction: We performed a 12-month randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of an online, collaborative connected health (CCH) model for psoriasis management on access to specialty care. Materials and Methods: The 300 enrolled patients were randomized to online or in-person care. We compared distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time between the two groups and obtained patient and provider perspectives on CCH. Results: At baseline, no differences existed between the groups in difficulties obtaining specialty care. Over 12 months, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) distance traveled to and from appointments was 174.8 (±577.4) km/person for the in-person group and 2.2 (±14.2) km/person for the online group (p = 0.0003). The mean (SD) time spent on transportation and in-office waiting for in-person appointments was 4.0 (±4.5) h/person for the in-person group and 0.1 (±0.4) h/person for the online group (p = 0.0001). Patients found CCH to be safe, accessible, equitable, efficient, effective, and patient-centered. Providers found CCH to be useful for providing psoriasis care. Discussion: The CCH model resulted in significantly less distance traveled as well as transportation and in-office waiting time compared to in-person care. Both patients and providers were highly satisfied with CCH. Conclusions: The CCH model resulted in increased access to specialty care and enabled patient-centered, safe, and effective management of psoriasis patients.
KW - dermatology
KW - teledermatology
KW - telehealth
KW - telemedicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061024659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061024659&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/tmj.2018.0160
DO - 10.1089/tmj.2018.0160
M3 - Article
C2 - 30222518
AN - SCOPUS:85061024659
VL - 25
SP - 619
EP - 627
JO - Telemedicine and e-Health
JF - Telemedicine and e-Health
SN - 1530-5627
IS - 7
ER -