Teledermatology in a Rural Family Practice
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Teledermatology in a Rural Family Practice | |
| Creator | O'Mahony, D. Banach, L. Mahapa, D.H. Lancaster, E.W. van der Linde, G.D. Williams, B.H. Herring, R.F. Asvadi, S.A. | |
| Description | Background: Telemedicine can provide specialist services at a distance to rural areas where access to such services is limited, especially in developing countries. The objectives of this study are to describe and evaluate a teledermatology service in a rural family practice.Methods: Internet-based store-and-forward technology was used. Patients were selected who needed a specialist dermatologist's opinion for diagnosis and management. Pictures of skin conditions were taken with a digital camera and forwarded, together with clinical data, via electronic mail (e-mail) to specialist dermatologists at either of three distant academic centres. Digital pictures of skin biopsies were also forwarded from the regional pathology laboratory. Results were received via e-mail.Results: Over a twenty-one month period, fifty-two patients had teledermatology consultations. Picture quality was adequate for evaluation in all cases. The family practitioner's provisional diagnosis, compared to the teledermatologists, was correct in 28 (57%) of 49 cases where a definite diagnosis was made. Six patients needed referral to a dermatology clinic. The most common diagnoses (number) were rinea (8), acquired immune-deficiency syndrome associated papulopruritic eruption (3), photosensitive dermatitis (3) scleroderma or morphea (3), pryriasis rosea (2), psoriasis (2) and systemic lupus erythematosis (2).Conclusion: Most patients with dermatology problems in rural family practice can be managed by means of store-and-forward teledermatology. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2002-12-30 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v25i6.2031 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 25, No 6 (2002); 5 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/2031/2578
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