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Comparative Study
. 2017 Aug;23(8):684-690.
doi: 10.1089/tmj.2016.0192. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

Patient and Provider Satisfaction with Teledermatology

Richard Marchell  1 , Craig Locatis  2 , Gene Burgess  1 , Richard Maisiak  3 , Wei-Li Liu  2 , Michael Ackerman  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Patient and Provider Satisfaction with Teledermatology

Richard Marchell et al. Telemed J E Health. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Background: There is little research comparing dermatologist and patient satisfaction with in-person, store-and-forward, and live interactive examinations.

Objective: To compare satisfaction with in-person examinations to store-and-forward and live interactive consultations having two types of video.

Methods: A controlled study was conducted where patients referred for dermatology consultations were examined in-person, by video, and by store-and-forward methods. Video changed between compressed and uncompressed on alternate clinics. Patients and dermatologists rated encounters after each examination. Dermatologists doing store-and-forward evaluations rated the quality of information provided. After experiencing all methods patients ranked their preferences. Dermatologists ranked their preferences at the end of the study.

Results: In-person examinations were preferred by both patients and dermatologists. Overall, satisfaction with teledermatology was still high. Patients were evenly divided in preferring store-and-forward workups or live interactive video. Dermatologists were also divided on store-and-forward and uncompressed video, but tended toward the latter. Compressed video was the least preferred method among dermatologists.

Limitations: Dermatology residents took store-and-forward photos and their quality was likely superior to those normally taken in practice.

Conclusions: Patients and dermatologists prefer in-person examinations and diverge on preferring store-and-forward and live interactive when video is not compressed. The amount of video compression that can be applied without noticeable image degradation is a question for future research.

Keywords: preferences; satisfaction; teledermatology; telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Figures

<b>Fig. 1.</b>
Fig. 1.
Patient encounter assessment form.
<b>Fig. 2.</b>
Fig. 2.
Dermatologist information assessment form for store-and-forward consultations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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