TeleAllergy: Potential of Telemedicine in Management of Patients With Allergies

The growing prevalence of allergic diseases alongside a shortage of trained allergists creates significant challenges in delivering timely care, especially for underserved populations. Telemedicine presents a promising solution, offering remote care through digital tools. While telemedicine has been widely adopted in other fields, its use in allergy care remains underexplored.

This study aimed to assess the potential of telemedicine in managing allergic diseases by examining patient preferences and experiences.

A survey of 27 questions was distributed to adult patients (>18 y) with allergic diseases attending the outpatient allergy clinic at the Division of Allergy, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland, between May and August 2024. The survey covered demographic information, prior use of telemedicine, and preferences for teleconsultation modalities. It also assessed patients' willingness to share various types of clinical data, including images and written reports, and explored which allergic diseases were considered appropriate for telemedicine.

A total of 102 patients participated in the survey, with a mean age of 44.4 years (SD 16.7 y). For further analysis, the patients were stratified into four age groups: 18-34 years (36/102), 35-49 years (26/102), 50-64 years (31/102), and ≥65 years (9/102). Among them, 44% (41/94; P=.22) had previously used telemedicine services, with 34% (32/94; P=.04) specifically using it for allergic diseases. When asked about consultation formats, 49% (49/100) of patients preferred in-person visits, while 41% (41/100) favored a hybrid model combining telemedicine and in-person care. Regarding telemedicine tools, 57% (51/89) preferred telephone consultations with a doctor. Patients would use telemedicine preferentially for mild compared to severe allergic diseases as well as for chronic compared to acute conditions. The spectrum of diseases for which patients would use telemedicine comprised a wide range of allergic conditions, with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (16%; 14/85), Hymenoptera venom allergy (13%; 11/85), and food allergy/intolerance (13%; 11/85) cited most frequently. Only 7% (6/85) of patients indicated they would not use telemedicine for any allergic disease.

This study emphasizes the growing adoption and importance of telemedicine in allergy care, with a significant proportion of patients already having experience using it for managing allergic diseases. Patients' inclination toward multiple communication formats underscores the growing need for individualized management of allergic diseases.