Reliability of Web-based teledermatology consultations.
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.
Department of Dermatology, Gazi University, Turkey. moztas@gazi.edu.tr
Murat Orhan
MO
Oztas
Emel
E
Calikoglu
Kiymet
K
Baz
Ahu
A
Birol
Meltem
M
Onder
Tamer
T
Calikoglu
Mehmet T
MT
Kitapci
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000592:standards*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014421:Turkey