[Indicators in teledermatology: A literature review]

Over the last two decades teledermatology has become one of the most widely used applications in telemedicine. Wide-ranging medico-economic evaluations are necessary to facilitate its deployment. "Accurate and measurable" indicators must be defined in order to enable high-quality assessments to be performed. The objective of this study is to identify all indicators allowing evaluation of teledermatology procedures and to assess the relevance and results thereof.

A literature search until September 2017 was conducted in PubMed using the following MeSH search terms: "telemedicine", "dermatology" and "quality improvement".

The search identified 372 articles, of which 127 were included. Fourteen indicators were identified and split into 4 categories: processes indicators, quality indicators, cost indicators and satisfaction indicators. Reliability of diagnosis was the most widely evaluated indicator (49 studies). It was good overall compared to conventional consultations. Costs were generally reduced. Due to the absence of a validated measuring tool, it was difficult to compare the results for certain indicators, particularly satisfaction, and thus to make any generalizations.

Teledermatology is a promising tool. Its deployment must be adapted to the various needs in the field and achievement of this goal requires consultation with patients and with the different healthcare professionals involved. Its evaluation must also be specific to each terrain and must employ standardized measuring instruments.