Geriatric teledermatology: store-and-forward vs. face-to-face examination

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Dermatology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Telemedicine offers a solution for healthcare access challenges in elderly populations, particularly in Italy.
• Elderly patients with compromised health face significant barriers to travel for medical appointments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of store-and-forward teledermatology compared to in-person consultations for geriatric patients.
• To assess diagnostic and therapeutic concordance between telemedicine and face-to-face dermatology.

Main Methods:

• 130 geriatric patients (mean age 80.58) with skin conditions were enrolled.
• Three experienced dermatologists compared store-and-forward teledermatology with face-to-face examinations.
• Evaluated diagnostic agreement (ICD-9), therapeutic agreement, and diagnostic confidence.

Main Results:

• High diagnostic agreement (87.7%, Cohen's κ=0.863) was observed between teledermatology and face-to-face consultations.
• Therapeutic agreement reached 69.6% (Cohen's κ=0.640).
• Dermatologists reported slightly lower diagnostic confidence when using telemedicine.

Conclusions:

• Store-and-forward teledermatology is effective for diagnosing and treating skin diseases in elderly patients.
• This method enhances access to dermatological care for seniors facing mobility or logistical challenges.
• Teledermatology improves the overall quality of care for elderly individuals with skin conditions.