Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology

Introduction: Access to dermatology specialty care is limited in the underserved population. Barrier identification and exploring the potential role of teledermatology are the first steps to address this problem.  Objectives:  Identify the barriers to dermatologist care for diagnosis and treatmen...

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Main Author: Darlla Duniphin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mattioli1885 2023-01-01
Series:Dermatology Practical & Conceptual
Subjects:
Online Access:https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/2461
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author Darlla Duniphin
author_facet Darlla Duniphin
author_sort Darlla Duniphin
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Access to dermatology specialty care is limited in the underserved population. Barrier identification and exploring the potential role of teledermatology are the first steps to address this problem.  Objectives:  Identify the barriers to dermatologist care for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers in the underserved population.  Additionally explored was the potential role of teledermatology to provide dermatology care access in the underserved population.   Methods:  A quantitative descriptive study was conducted via an online survey instrument.  The survey’s barriers portion was adapted from the 1998 Ohio Family Health Survey (OFHS).  The survey’s teledermatology portion was adapted from the McFarland Teledermatology Provider and Imaging Technician Satisfaction Survey.  The participants were practicing dermatologists and members of Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin dermatology associations.  Thirty-eight responded to demographic questions, of which twenty-two responded to the survey items.  Results: The top three barriers ranked as the most concerning were continually uninsured (n = 8; 36.40%), resides in a medically underserved county (n = 5; 22.70%), and family under federal poverty level (n = 7; 33.30%).  Teledermatology as a potential role for access to care was supported by convenient delivery of healthcare (n = 6; 72.70%), an addition to regular patient care (n = 20; 90.90%), and increase to patient care access (n = 18; 81.80%).  Conclusion:  Barrier identification and teledermatology access to provide care to the underserved population is supported. Further teledermatology research is necessary to address the logistics regarding how to initiate and deliver teledermatology to the underserved.
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spelling doaj.art-5c6cf94cf61741cb9cccf37f0adf646f2023-02-02T11:15:57ZengMattioli1885Dermatology Practical & Conceptual2160-93812023-01-0113110.5826/dpc.1301a31Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and TeledermatologyDarlla Duniphin0University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Introduction: Access to dermatology specialty care is limited in the underserved population. Barrier identification and exploring the potential role of teledermatology are the first steps to address this problem.  Objectives:  Identify the barriers to dermatologist care for diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers in the underserved population.  Additionally explored was the potential role of teledermatology to provide dermatology care access in the underserved population.   Methods:  A quantitative descriptive study was conducted via an online survey instrument.  The survey’s barriers portion was adapted from the 1998 Ohio Family Health Survey (OFHS).  The survey’s teledermatology portion was adapted from the McFarland Teledermatology Provider and Imaging Technician Satisfaction Survey.  The participants were practicing dermatologists and members of Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin dermatology associations.  Thirty-eight responded to demographic questions, of which twenty-two responded to the survey items.  Results: The top three barriers ranked as the most concerning were continually uninsured (n = 8; 36.40%), resides in a medically underserved county (n = 5; 22.70%), and family under federal poverty level (n = 7; 33.30%).  Teledermatology as a potential role for access to care was supported by convenient delivery of healthcare (n = 6; 72.70%), an addition to regular patient care (n = 20; 90.90%), and increase to patient care access (n = 18; 81.80%).  Conclusion:  Barrier identification and teledermatology access to provide care to the underserved population is supported. Further teledermatology research is necessary to address the logistics regarding how to initiate and deliver teledermatology to the underserved. https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/2461BarriersTeledermatologyMelanomaNon-MelanomaSkin Cancer
spellingShingle Darlla Duniphin
Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual
Barriers
Teledermatology
Melanoma
Non-Melanoma
Skin Cancer
title Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
title_full Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
title_fullStr Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
title_full_unstemmed Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
title_short Limited Access to Dermatology Specialty Care: Barriers and Teledermatology
title_sort limited access to dermatology specialty care barriers and teledermatology
topic Barriers
Teledermatology
Melanoma
Non-Melanoma
Skin Cancer
url https://dpcj.org/index.php/dpc/article/view/2461
work_keys_str_mv AT darlladuniphin limitedaccesstodermatologyspecialtycarebarriersandteledermatology