Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life

Finch, Tracy, May, Carl, Esmail, A., Griffiths, C. E. M., Shaw, N. T., Fitzgerald, D., Stewart, E., Mould, M., Morgan, Miles, Pickup, L. and Kelly, Shane (2001) Patient satisfaction with teledermatology is related to perceived quality of life. British Journal of Dermatology, 145 (6). pp. 911-917. ISSN 0007-0963

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dermatology Life Quality Index; patient satisfaction; quality of life; teledermatology; telehealthcare; telemedicine
Subjects:	B900 Others in Subjects allied to Medicine
Department:	Faculties > Health and Life Sciences > Nursing, Midwifery and Health
Depositing User:	Becky Skoyles
Date Deposited:	12 Dec 2017 09:50
Last Modified:	12 Oct 2019 12:00
URI:	http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/32804

Downloads