title: Teledermatology in pharmacies: a pilot study.
abstract: We investigated community pharmacists' management of skin conditions in order to identify a need for further educational support. Twenty community pharmacists in Queensland completed a questionnaire regarding their management of skin conditions and their opinions regarding the usefulness of a potential teledermatology service. The pharmacists' accuracy in managing skin conditions was tested by a dermatologist who reviewed the pharmacists' advice in 33 cases obtained by 14 pharmacists. Overall agreement between the pharmacists and the dermatologist was moderate, with a kappa statistic of 0.58 (P < 0.05) The uptake of a potential teledermatology service was investigated in one pharmacy over one month. Five patients were offered the teledermatology service. Of these, two patients consented and three refused. All pharmacists (n = 20) indicated a desire for further education and supported the idea of a teledermatology service.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Manahan
authors.forename: H Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Nissen
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D060946:Pharmaceutical Services, Online / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011793:Queensland; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*