title: Feasibility and acceptance of telemedicine for wound care in patients with chronic leg ulcers.
abstract: We examined the feasibility and acceptance of teledermatology for wound management of patients with chronic leg ulcers by home-care nurses. Forty-one chronic leg ulcers of different origin in 14 patients were included. After an initial in-person visit in which leg ulcers were assessed and classified, and underlying diseases noted, follow-up visits were done by home-care nurses. Once a week 1-4 digital images of the wound and surrounding skin and relevant clinical information were transmitted via a secure Website to an expert at the wound care centre. The experts provided an assessment of wound status and therapeutic recommendations. In 89% of the 492 teleconsultations, the quality of images was sufficient or excellent and the experts were confident giving therapeutic recommendations. Treatment modalities were changed or adapted in one-third of the consultations. There was a significant decrease in visits to a general physician or the wound care centre. The acceptance of teledermatology was high in patients, home-care nurses and wound experts. Teledermatology offers great potential for chronic wound care and seems to be accepted both by patients and health-care persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. rainer.hofmann@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann-Wellenhof
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salmhofer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okcu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kerl
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D017592:Skin Care; D014945:Wound Healing