Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology
The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients cared for with teledermatology (TD) services was analyzed as compared with face-to-face dermatology (F-F/D) at the hospital. This study was a controlled, non-blinded, intra-level, and multicenter randomized clinical trial, with a 6-month fol...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2172 |
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| author | Remedios Lopez-Liria Antonio Lopez-Villegas Maria Angeles Valverde-Martinez Mercedes Perez-Heredia Francisco Antonio Vega-Ramirez Salvador Peiro Cesar Leal-Costa |
| author_facet | Remedios Lopez-Liria Antonio Lopez-Villegas Maria Angeles Valverde-Martinez Mercedes Perez-Heredia Francisco Antonio Vega-Ramirez Salvador Peiro Cesar Leal-Costa |
| author_sort | Remedios Lopez-Liria |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients cared for with teledermatology (TD) services was analyzed as compared with face-to-face dermatology (F-F/D) at the hospital. This study was a controlled, non-blinded, intra-level, and multicenter randomized clinical trial, with a 6-month follow-up. A total of 450 patients were randomly assigned to two different groups. The Spanish version of the generic EuroQol-5-dimensions-5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire and the specific Skindex-29 questionnaire were used at 0 and 6 months. The number of primary care visits (2.24 TD; 1.68 F-F/D) and number of hospital visits (0.01 TD; 1.48 F-F/D) were statistically significant. It was observed that from month 0 onwards, the users included in the F-F/D group self-perceived a lower HRQoL than the users included in the TD group (Skindex-29 total: <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L VAS = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L utilities = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00). At the end of the study, the patients included in the F-F/D group still obtained lower scores in their perception of HRQoL, as compared to those included in the other type of follow-up (Skindex-29 total: <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L VAS = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L utilities = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00). TD was an effective diagnosis and follow-up tool. At the end of the study period, the HRQoL of the patients in both groups was significantly higher as compared to their baseline levels. Additionally, both the general and specific HRQoL perceived by the TD patients was higher than the F-F/D group from the start of the study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:02:19Z |
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| id | doaj.art-35de47f9cad9425ba2acf59ad9e40001 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:02:19Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-35de47f9cad9425ba2acf59ad9e400012023-11-24T04:50:59ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-10-011011217210.3390/healthcare10112172Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face DermatologyRemedios Lopez-Liria0Antonio Lopez-Villegas1Maria Angeles Valverde-Martinez2Mercedes Perez-Heredia3Francisco Antonio Vega-Ramirez4Salvador Peiro5Cesar Leal-Costa6Health Research Centre, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera del Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almeria, SpainResearch Unit, Poniente University Hospital, El Ejido, 04700 Almeria, SpainHealth Research Centre, Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, Carretera del Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, 04120 Almeria, SpainResearch Management Department, Primary Care District Poniente of Almería, El Ejido, 04700 Almeria, SpainResearch Team Hum-498, Torrecardenas University Hospital, 04009 Almeria, SpainHealth Services Research Unit, Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region (FISABIO), 46020 Valencia, SpainNursing Department, University of Murcia, 30003 Murcia, SpainThe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients cared for with teledermatology (TD) services was analyzed as compared with face-to-face dermatology (F-F/D) at the hospital. This study was a controlled, non-blinded, intra-level, and multicenter randomized clinical trial, with a 6-month follow-up. A total of 450 patients were randomly assigned to two different groups. The Spanish version of the generic EuroQol-5-dimensions-5-Levels (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire and the specific Skindex-29 questionnaire were used at 0 and 6 months. The number of primary care visits (2.24 TD; 1.68 F-F/D) and number of hospital visits (0.01 TD; 1.48 F-F/D) were statistically significant. It was observed that from month 0 onwards, the users included in the F-F/D group self-perceived a lower HRQoL than the users included in the TD group (Skindex-29 total: <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L VAS = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L utilities = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00). At the end of the study, the patients included in the F-F/D group still obtained lower scores in their perception of HRQoL, as compared to those included in the other type of follow-up (Skindex-29 total: <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L VAS = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00; EQ-5D-5L utilities = <i>p</i> ≤ 0.00). TD was an effective diagnosis and follow-up tool. At the end of the study period, the HRQoL of the patients in both groups was significantly higher as compared to their baseline levels. Additionally, both the general and specific HRQoL perceived by the TD patients was higher than the F-F/D group from the start of the study.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2172primary carehealth-related quality of lifeteledermatologytelemedicinedermatology |
| spellingShingle | Remedios Lopez-Liria Antonio Lopez-Villegas Maria Angeles Valverde-Martinez Mercedes Perez-Heredia Francisco Antonio Vega-Ramirez Salvador Peiro Cesar Leal-Costa Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology Healthcare primary care health-related quality of life teledermatology telemedicine dermatology |
| title | Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology |
| title_full | Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology |
| title_fullStr | Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology |
| title_short | Comparative Analysis of Quality of Life of Patients with Dermatological Problems: Teledermatology Versus Face-to-Face Dermatology |
| title_sort | comparative analysis of quality of life of patients with dermatological problems teledermatology versus face to face dermatology |
| topic | primary care health-related quality of life teledermatology telemedicine dermatology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/11/2172 |
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