Abstract
We studied patient preferences for a real-time teledermatology consultation or a conventional dermatology consultation. Dermatology patients were given the option of being seen by a dermatologist at their outlying primary care site via telemedicine or of being examined face-to-face by the same dermatologist at the primary care site. The same dermatologist provided the teleconsultations and the conventional consultations. During a 16-month study period, 52 patients were evaluated via telemedicine and 46 patients were seen face-to-face. The demographics for both study groups were similar. Those patients who selected telemedicine were more likely to have seen a dermatologist fewer than twice during the previous year, more likely to self-describe themselves in excellent health and more likely to choose a face-to-face evaluation when presenting with a possible skin cancer or a mole. Patients aged 56 years or less tended to be more likely to be seen via telemedicine, although the association with age was not significant (P=0.06). This information may help providers to devise strategies to direct patients to telemedicine if and when it is appropriate.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 246-250 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 1 2007 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health Informatics
- Health Policy
- Nursing(all)