Teledermatology in Norway using a mobile phone app

PLoS One. 2020 Apr 27;15(4):e0232131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232131. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Rashes, ulcers and skin lesions are well suited for telemedicine. We have developed a smartphone app, the first of its kind in Norway, where a referring physician can write a short medical history and take clinical and dermatoscopic photographs with a smartphone, which is then sent to and evaluated by a dermatologist. In the period from June 1st, 2017, to September 1st, 2019, clinical information and photographs of rash and skin lesions from 171 patients were sent by 40 primary care and nursing home physicians via the smartphone app to four dermatologists for diagnosis and therapeutic advice. A wide range of dermatological conditions were diagnosed, most commonly chronic ulcers (17%), eczema (15%) and pigmented lesions (13%). Assessed later by a dermatologist, referral for regular consultations with a specialist was avoided in 119 patients (70%). Sixteen patients (9%) were recommended a regular consultation with a dermatologist; information for prioritization in the specialist healthcare service was then provided. In 36 patients (21%), further measures by the referring physician were recommended. Our experience indicates that many ordinary consultations on rash, ulcers and skin lesions in the specialist healthcare services can be avoided when using the smartphone app.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cell Phone / instrumentation*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatology / organization & administration*
  • Dermatology / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / organization & administration*
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Mobile Applications / statistics & numerical data*
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Referral and Consultation
  • Skin Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Skin Diseases / epidemiology
  • Telemedicine / instrumentation*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

SMHR, AS and KU founded and are shareholders in Askin AS (www.askin.no), of which TS is a partner. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors [SMHR, AS and KU], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section