Tele-Dermatology during crisis, comparison of patients' perspective between tele and onsite clinics

To assess patients' satisfaction with tele-dermatology versus face-to-face visits, and to identify their attitude toward the new modality.

The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2021 at the Department of Dermatology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised patients of either gender. Those who opted to personally visit the outpatient department were placed in group A, while those opting for tele-dermatology were placed in group B. A selfdesigned questionnaire was used to evaluate the experiences in both the groups. Scoring was done using a Likert scale. The responses were recorded as dichotomised, and a cut-off score of 14 was identified as an expression of satisfaction. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

Of the 202 patients, 100(49.5%) were in group A; 65(65%) females and 35(35%) males, with 44(44%) aged 20-30 years. There were 102(50.5%) patients in group B, with 71(69.6%) females and 31(30.4%) males, and 42(41.2%) aged 20-30 years (p>0.05). Satisfaction was expressed by 94(46.2%) patients in group B compared to 108(53.8%) in group A. More females 48(57.1%) were satisfied than males 36(42.8%) in group A, while more males 50(69.4%) expressed satisfaction in group B females 22(30.5%).

Tele-dermatology was found to be a valuable method to deliver healthcare which could be adopted in future practices.