Health Care : Current Reviews

Evaluation of patient-initiated direct-care teledermatology during COVID-19 pandemic

7^th International Congress on Dermatology and Trichology & 12^th World Congress on Women Health, Gynecology and Breast Cancer Research & 8^th International Conference on Psychiatry and Psychological Disorders

February 24, 2022 | Webinar

Priyanka Sharma

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Health Care Curr Rev

Abstract:

Aim: The “patient-initiated direct-care teledermatology” has emerged as a safe and efficient tool to offer dermatologic care while ensuring the mitigation of disease transmission during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The study evaluates the “patient-initiated direct-care teledermatology” for patients’ satisfaction, physician’s confidence and diagnostic concordance. Patients and Methods: Patients seeking dermatology teleconsultation were subjected to a questionnaire and the response was rated on a 3-point response scale, ranging from “agree” to “disagree”. Physicians rated the confidence level of making a clinical diagnosis on a scale of 1 to 10. Based on the clinical images and case summary provided by the patients on teledermatology, a blind assessment was done by dermatologists to determine the primary and aggregated diagnostic accuracy. Results: A high patient satisfaction rate of 95.9% was observed. Of total 437 patients, 61.6% patients preferred to use this service beyond the COVID pandemic. The mean Physician’s confidence score (PCS) was 9.20 ± 1.12. Both primary as well as aggregated diagnostic accuracy was found to be 70%. A significant correlation was observed with various demographical and clinical characteristics. Conclusion: The patient-initiated direct-care TD is an efficient, versatile, time-saving and cost-effective tool for offering dermatological care, especially in the current COVID pandemic and its utility may be explored even beyond the COVID pandemic.

Biography :

Priyanka Sharma has completed her MD degree in Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy from the prestigious Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. She has worked as a senior resident and clinical researcher for three years in the field of clinical and interventional dermatology, dermatosurgery and Aesthetic medicine. She has published her work in national as well as international journals including JEADV and also contributed as a reviewer for national and international dermatology journals. She has completed an extensive fellowship programme in Hair transplantation under the aegis of AKC Hair transplant Centre, New Delhi, the pioneers of FUE in India. She is currently practicing as consultant dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon in New Delhi, India.