Telemedicine in Dermatology

Rho, Ha Seok; Shur, Ki Beom; Lee, Jeung Hoon; Park, Jang Kyu; Jung, Hoe Kyung; Kwak, Sang Tae

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine can be useful in dermatology in which there is a physical barrier between the dermatologist and patient or primary care giver. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose of this study is to examine a usefulness of teledermatology system in Korean situation. METHODS: We made store-and forward teledermatology system on world wide web for it's usefulness. We examined the difference of diagnostic accuracy, level of certainty, and quality of images of photographs and still digital images. RESULTS: The merits of our teledermatology system are summarized as follows1. It has more diagnostic accuracy than classic store-and forward system. 2. The real-time additional history taking and request of laboratory examinations are possible by chatting system between dermatologist and primary care giver. 3. Patient follow-up is easier than store-and forward system. The difference of diagnostic accuracy, level of certainty, and quality of images of photographs and still digital images are summarized as follows. 1. There is no difference of diagnostic accuracy between photographic readers and digital image readers. 2. There is no difference of level of certainty between photographic readers and digital image readers. 3. In assesment of quality of photographs, no difference was founded between photographic readers and digital image readers 4. The satisfaction of quality of photographs is very high in all groups. The average is 97.5%. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that our teledermatology system is useful in korean situation and still digital image can substitute historic photographs in teledermatology.