Reliability of Web-based teledermatology consultations

• Published in: Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2004-01, Vol.10 (1), p.25-28
• Main Authors: Oztas, Murat Orhan, Calikoglu, Emel, Baz, Kiymet, Birol, Ahu, Onder, Meltem, Calikoglu, Tamer, Kitapci, Mehmet T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Dermatology - methods; Dermatology - standards; Humans; Internet - standards; Remote Consultation - instrumentation; Remote Consultation - standards; Reproducibility of Results; Skin Diseases - diagnosis; Turkey
• ISSN: 1357-633X; 1758-1109
• DOI: 10.1258/135763304322764158

We studied the reliability of teledermatology diagnoses made using a Web-based system. Clinical photographs and information relating to 125 patients were placed on a Web server. Three dermatologists made the most likely diagnosis via a Web interface. The reference diagnosis was made in a face-to-face consultation with a fourth dermatologist; where appropriate it was confirmed histologically. The teledermatologists were correct in 57% of cases when viewing the images alone. Their diagnostic accuracy improved to 70% when additional clinical information was available. The rate of agreement between the teledermatologists ranged from 44% to 70% (kappa= 0.22–0.32). Seventy-seven per cent of the patients were correctly diagnosed by at least two dermatologists when clinical information was provided. A Web-based system appears to be reliable for teledermatology. A single well trained teledermatologist may give better results than a group of less well trained clinicians.