Mobile teledermatology: a feasibility study of 58 subjects using mobile phones.
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Date
2008-03-05
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Abstract
We investigated the diagnostic agreement between teledermatology based on images from a mobile phone camera and face to face FTF dermatology Diagnostic agreement was assessed for two teledermatologists TD in comparison with FTF consultations in 58 subjects In almost three quarters of the cases TD1 71 TD2 76 the telediagnosis was fully concordant with the FTF diagnosis Furthermore the diagnosed diseases were almost all in the same diagnostic category TD1 97 TD2 90 If mobile teledermatology had been used for remote triage TD1 could have treated 53 subjects remotely and 47 subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF TD2 could have treated 59 subjects remotely whereas 41 subjects would have had to consult a dermatologist FTF Forty eight subjects responded to a questionnaire of whom only 10 had any concerns regarding teledermatology Thirty one subjects stated that they would be willing to pay to use a similar service in future and suggested an amount ranging from euro5 to euro50 per consultation mean euro22 euro pound0 7 US 1 4 These results are encouraging as patient acceptance and reimbursement represent potential obstacles to the implementation of telemedicine services