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Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life

Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life
Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life
Background: There is a lack of good data about patient satisfaction with teledermatology and about its potential interaction with quality-of-life factors.

Objectives: To assess the association between perceived skin-related quality of life and patient satisfaction with a nurse-led teledermatology service.

Methods: In a mobile nurse-led teledermatology clinic located in four inner city general practices in Manchester, the teledermatology service used digital cameras to capture and store images of skin conditions for remote diagnosis by dermatologists. One hundred and twenty-three adult patients, non-urgent dermatology referrals from primary care, completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and a 15-item patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Results: In common with other studies of patient satisfaction, subjects reported highly favourable views of ‘hotel’ aspects of the service (93%) and found it ‘convenient’ (86%). However, 40% of patients would have preferred to have had a conventional face-to-face consultation with a dermatologist, and 17% felt unable to speak freely about their condition. Patient satisfaction with the service was related to quality of life. Patients reporting lower quality of life as measured by the DLQI were more likely to prefer a face-to-face encounter with a dermatologist (r = 0·216, P < 0·05), and to evince anxiety about being photographed (r = 0·223, P < 0·05).

Conclusions:Patient acceptance and satisfaction with telemedicine services is complicated by patients' subjective health status. Telehealthcare providers need to recognize that patients with poor quality of life may want and benefit from face-to-face interaction with expert clinicians.
dermatology life quality index, patient satisfaction, quality of life, teledermatology, telehealthcare, telemedicine
0007-0963
911-917
Williams, T.L.
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May, C
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Esmail, A.
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Griffiths, C.E.M.
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Shaw, N.T.
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Fitzgerald, D.
f33a683e-b804-49ba-9723-046f7ccda9e7
Stewart, E.
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Mould, M.
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Morgan, M.
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Pickup, L.
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Kelly, S.
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Williams, T.L.
45bd1211-4010-40d7-a954-de1ad6a1f8c4
May, C
17697f8d-98f6-40d3-9cc0-022f04009ae4
Esmail, A.
7397e082-d84b-4145-b348-033257200e27
Griffiths, C.E.M.
0b9025d8-bc89-41bc-862f-4635f2a1f30d
Shaw, N.T.
936b43ba-e102-4995-9f15-293050f4efea
Fitzgerald, D.
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Stewart, E.
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Mould, M.
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Morgan, M.
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Pickup, L.
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Kelly, S.
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Williams, T.L., May, C, Esmail, A., Griffiths, C.E.M., Shaw, N.T., Fitzgerald, D., Stewart, E., Mould, M., Morgan, M., Pickup, L. and Kelly, S. (2001) Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life. British Journal of Dermatology, 145 (6), 911-917. (doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.04472.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of good data about patient satisfaction with teledermatology and about its potential interaction with quality-of-life factors.

Objectives: To assess the association between perceived skin-related quality of life and patient satisfaction with a nurse-led teledermatology service.

Methods: In a mobile nurse-led teledermatology clinic located in four inner city general practices in Manchester, the teledermatology service used digital cameras to capture and store images of skin conditions for remote diagnosis by dermatologists. One hundred and twenty-three adult patients, non-urgent dermatology referrals from primary care, completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and a 15-item patient satisfaction questionnaire.

Results: In common with other studies of patient satisfaction, subjects reported highly favourable views of ‘hotel’ aspects of the service (93%) and found it ‘convenient’ (86%). However, 40% of patients would have preferred to have had a conventional face-to-face consultation with a dermatologist, and 17% felt unable to speak freely about their condition. Patient satisfaction with the service was related to quality of life. Patients reporting lower quality of life as measured by the DLQI were more likely to prefer a face-to-face encounter with a dermatologist (r = 0·216, P < 0·05), and to evince anxiety about being photographed (r = 0·223, P < 0·05).

Conclusions:Patient acceptance and satisfaction with telemedicine services is complicated by patients' subjective health status. Telehealthcare providers need to recognize that patients with poor quality of life may want and benefit from face-to-face interaction with expert clinicians.

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More information

Published date: December 2001
Keywords: dermatology life quality index, patient satisfaction, quality of life, teledermatology, telehealthcare, telemedicine

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 163453
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/163453
ISSN: 0007-0963
PURE UUID: 0eb50208-90b0-4312-8771-ff3378774dad

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Date deposited: 09 Sep 2010 14:05
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:05

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Contributors

Author: T.L. Williams
Author: C May ORCID iD
Author: A. Esmail
Author: C.E.M. Griffiths
Author: N.T. Shaw
Author: D. Fitzgerald
Author: E. Stewart
Author: M. Mould
Author: M. Morgan
Author: L. Pickup
Author: S. Kelly

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