Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic
Background: There was a rapid expansion of teledermatology around the world with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. This helped to reduce hospital visits with better adherence to medication and overall costs, especially in chronic dermatoses. Methodology: A retrospective study of teleconsultations duri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Current Medical Issues |
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| Online Access: | http://www.cmijournal.org/article.asp?issn=0973-4651;year=2024;volume=22;issue=1;spage=31;epage=36;aulast=Jose |
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| author | Sheethal K Jose Priya Sara Kuryan Gauri Dinesh Mahabal Dincy C V. Peter Leni George Susanne A Pulimood |
| author_facet | Sheethal K Jose Priya Sara Kuryan Gauri Dinesh Mahabal Dincy C V. Peter Leni George Susanne A Pulimood |
| author_sort | Sheethal K Jose |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: There was a rapid expansion of teledermatology around the world with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. This helped to reduce hospital visits with better adherence to medication and overall costs, especially in chronic dermatoses. Methodology: A retrospective study of teleconsultations during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic at the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital in South India was done from May to October 2020. Real-time video teleconsultations were done using the hospital's teleconsultation portal. Demography, clinical profile of patients, and outcome of teleconsultation were studied. Results: During the study period, 476 teleconsultation sessions in 265 patients were carried out. The mean age of patients was 40.65 ± 16.79 years; geriatric population constituted 38 (14.3%) patients. Urban to rural population ratio was 1:1.3. Median disease duration was 2.5 years (interquartile range 4.75 years). Papulosquamous disorders and infectious diseases were the most common disorders constituting 52 (19.6%) and 51 (19.2%) cases, respectively. Patients with chronic dermatoses on systemic therapy constituted 268 (56.42%) teleconsultation sessions in 119 (44.9%) patients; common diseases being autoimmune blistering disorders (38; 31.9%), psoriasis (23; 19.3%), and leprosy (17; 14.3%). Optimization of therapy was done in 117 (44.2%) patients, initiation of new medication in 89 (33.6%), and continuation of therapy in 75 (28.3%) patients. An in-person review was advised in 46 (9.7%) sessions in 36 (13.6%) patients. Six (2.3%) patients were advised to have an urgent review. Conclusion: Teledermatology was an effective tool during the pandemic to extend hospital services. Optimization of therapy was the outcome in nearly half the sessions. This service can benefit patients from remote areas and geriatric population, especially with chronic dermatoses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:01:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a14050a0ee5482a9198c08ca56830c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0973-4651 2666-4054 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T23:01:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Medical Issues |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a14050a0ee5482a9198c08ca56830c72024-02-22T14:43:22ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsCurrent Medical Issues0973-46512666-40542024-01-01221313610.4103/cmi.cmi_110_23Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemicSheethal K JosePriya Sara KuryanGauri Dinesh MahabalDincy C V. PeterLeni GeorgeSusanne A PulimoodBackground: There was a rapid expansion of teledermatology around the world with the onset of COVID-19 pandemic. This helped to reduce hospital visits with better adherence to medication and overall costs, especially in chronic dermatoses. Methodology: A retrospective study of teleconsultations during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic at the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital in South India was done from May to October 2020. Real-time video teleconsultations were done using the hospital's teleconsultation portal. Demography, clinical profile of patients, and outcome of teleconsultation were studied. Results: During the study period, 476 teleconsultation sessions in 265 patients were carried out. The mean age of patients was 40.65 ± 16.79 years; geriatric population constituted 38 (14.3%) patients. Urban to rural population ratio was 1:1.3. Median disease duration was 2.5 years (interquartile range 4.75 years). Papulosquamous disorders and infectious diseases were the most common disorders constituting 52 (19.6%) and 51 (19.2%) cases, respectively. Patients with chronic dermatoses on systemic therapy constituted 268 (56.42%) teleconsultation sessions in 119 (44.9%) patients; common diseases being autoimmune blistering disorders (38; 31.9%), psoriasis (23; 19.3%), and leprosy (17; 14.3%). Optimization of therapy was done in 117 (44.2%) patients, initiation of new medication in 89 (33.6%), and continuation of therapy in 75 (28.3%) patients. An in-person review was advised in 46 (9.7%) sessions in 36 (13.6%) patients. Six (2.3%) patients were advised to have an urgent review. Conclusion: Teledermatology was an effective tool during the pandemic to extend hospital services. Optimization of therapy was the outcome in nearly half the sessions. This service can benefit patients from remote areas and geriatric population, especially with chronic dermatoses.http://www.cmijournal.org/article.asp?issn=0973-4651;year=2024;volume=22;issue=1;spage=31;epage=36;aulast=Josechronic dermatosescovid-19follow-upteledermatology |
| spellingShingle | Sheethal K Jose Priya Sara Kuryan Gauri Dinesh Mahabal Dincy C V. Peter Leni George Susanne A Pulimood Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic Current Medical Issues chronic dermatoses covid-19 follow-up teledermatology |
| title | Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in South India during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | profile of teleconsultation in dermatology at a tertiary care hospital in south india during the first wave of covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | chronic dermatoses covid-19 follow-up teledermatology |
| url | http://www.cmijournal.org/article.asp?issn=0973-4651;year=2024;volume=22;issue=1;spage=31;epage=36;aulast=Jose |
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