Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium
Abstract Introduction Teledermoscopy using smartphone-based applications is becoming more and more important in a setting of increasing frequency of skin cancer and difficult access to specialized care. The TELESPOT project aimed to provide rapid diagnosis and speed up patient flow between primary h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Adis, Springer Healthcare
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Dermatology and Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-020-00445-0 |
| _version_ | 1831773989231394816 |
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| author | Thomas Damsin Gregory Canivet Pauline Jacquemin Laurence Seidel Pierre Gillet Didier Giet Arjen F. Nikkels |
| author_facet | Thomas Damsin Gregory Canivet Pauline Jacquemin Laurence Seidel Pierre Gillet Didier Giet Arjen F. Nikkels |
| author_sort | Thomas Damsin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Teledermoscopy using smartphone-based applications is becoming more and more important in a setting of increasing frequency of skin cancer and difficult access to specialized care. The TELESPOT project aimed to provide rapid diagnosis and speed up patient flow between primary healthcare centers and a tertiary care center in Belgium. The aim of the present study is to describe the development of an in-house smartphone-based dermoscopy application, evaluate its real-life value in a series of primary healthcare centers, and present preliminary diagnostic data. Methods Modified Likert scales were used to assess patient and general practitioner (GP) satisfaction rates for the system. Furthermore, a total of 105 photographic and dermoscopic images were acquired in a series of 80 patients at participating centers. Results Overall, patient and GP satisfaction levels were 89% and 94%, respectively. High-priority management was recommended in 7.6% of cases (8/105: 3 basal cell carcinoma, 1 primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, 1 Spitz melanocytic nevus, 1 congenital nevus, 1 in situ melanoma, and 1 invasive melanoma, proven by histology). Conclusions The primary healthcare centers were highly satisfied with the TELESPOT project in terms of user-friendliness, efficacy, and reliability as well as in providing a reinforced image of first-line medicine efforts in combating skin cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:46:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-579eaf2739ca4471992d52670ad1f77c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-8210 2190-9172 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T08:46:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Adis, Springer Healthcare |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dermatology and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-579eaf2739ca4471992d52670ad1f77c2022-12-21T18:32:05ZengAdis, Springer HealthcareDermatology and Therapy2193-82102190-91722020-09-011061405141310.1007/s13555-020-00445-0Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in BelgiumThomas Damsin0Gregory Canivet1Pauline Jacquemin2Laurence Seidel3Pierre Gillet4Didier Giet5Arjen F. Nikkels6Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanDepartment of Computer Applications, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanDepartment of Methods of Projects, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanDepartment of Biostatistics, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanMedical Director, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanDepartment of General Medicine, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital Centre, CHU du Sart-TilmanAbstract Introduction Teledermoscopy using smartphone-based applications is becoming more and more important in a setting of increasing frequency of skin cancer and difficult access to specialized care. The TELESPOT project aimed to provide rapid diagnosis and speed up patient flow between primary healthcare centers and a tertiary care center in Belgium. The aim of the present study is to describe the development of an in-house smartphone-based dermoscopy application, evaluate its real-life value in a series of primary healthcare centers, and present preliminary diagnostic data. Methods Modified Likert scales were used to assess patient and general practitioner (GP) satisfaction rates for the system. Furthermore, a total of 105 photographic and dermoscopic images were acquired in a series of 80 patients at participating centers. Results Overall, patient and GP satisfaction levels were 89% and 94%, respectively. High-priority management was recommended in 7.6% of cases (8/105: 3 basal cell carcinoma, 1 primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, 1 Spitz melanocytic nevus, 1 congenital nevus, 1 in situ melanoma, and 1 invasive melanoma, proven by histology). Conclusions The primary healthcare centers were highly satisfied with the TELESPOT project in terms of user-friendliness, efficacy, and reliability as well as in providing a reinforced image of first-line medicine efforts in combating skin cancer.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-020-00445-0MelanomaPrimary healthcarePublic healthSkin cancerTeledermatologyTeledermoscopy |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Damsin Gregory Canivet Pauline Jacquemin Laurence Seidel Pierre Gillet Didier Giet Arjen F. Nikkels Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium Dermatology and Therapy Melanoma Primary healthcare Public health Skin cancer Teledermatology Teledermoscopy |
| title | Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium |
| title_full | Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium |
| title_fullStr | Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium |
| title_short | Value of Teledermoscopy in Primary Healthcare Centers: Preliminary Results of the TELESPOT Project in Belgium |
| title_sort | value of teledermoscopy in primary healthcare centers preliminary results of the telespot project in belgium |
| topic | Melanoma Primary healthcare Public health Skin cancer Teledermatology Teledermoscopy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-020-00445-0 |
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