Towards 'Formalising' WhatsApp Teledermatology Practice in KZ-N District Hospitals: Key Informant Interviews

Area of Science:

• Digital health interventions
• Teledermatology
• Healthcare policy

Background:

• District hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal lack onsite dermatology specialists.
• Clinicians currently use WhatsApp informally for dermatology consultations.
• There is a recognized need to formalize these teledermatology practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess clinician perspectives on formalizing existing WhatsApp teledermatology.
• To evaluate the feasibility and practicality of integrating teledermatology into the KwaZulu-Natal health system.

Main Methods:

• Key informant interviews were conducted with 12 district doctors and 14 dermatologists.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data on clinician views.
• Data collection focused on formalizing informal WhatsApp teledermatology.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: communication, usability, utility, process, and legal/ethical considerations.
• Clinicians strongly supported formalizing WhatsApp teledermatology.
• A need for practical guidelines addressing legal, regulatory, and ethical issues was identified.

Conclusions:

• Findings will inform a policy brief for formalizing teledermatology services.
• Recommendations and guidelines will be developed based on clinician input.
• The study's methodology and findings are applicable to similar international contexts.