title: Effect of store and forward teledermatology on quality of life: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although research on quality of life and dermatologic conditions is well represented in the literature, information on teledermatology's effect on quality of life is virtually absent.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of store and forward teledermatology on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-site, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dermatology clinics and affiliated sites of primary care at 2 US Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients being referred to a dermatology clinic were randomly assigned, stratified by site, to teledermatology or the conventional consultation process. Among the 392 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were randomized, 326 completed the allocated intervention and were included in the analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Store and forward teledermatology (digital images and a standardized history) or conventional text-based consultation processes were used to manage the dermatology consultations. Patients were followed up for 9 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary end point was change in Skindex-16 scores, a skin-specific quality-of-life instrument, between baseline and 9 months. A secondary end point was change in Skindex-16 scores between baseline and 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in both randomization groups demonstrated a clinically significant improvement in Skindex-16 scores between baseline and 9 months with no significant difference by randomization group (P = .66, composite score). No significant difference in Skindex-16 scores by randomization group between baseline and 3 months was found (P = .39, composite score).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with the conventional consultation process, store and forward teledermatology did not result in a statistically significant difference in skin-related quality of life at 3 or 9 months after referral.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00488293.
authors: Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, USA. john.whited@va.gov
authors: John D
authors: JD
authors: Whited
authors: Erin M
authors: EM
authors: Warshaw
authors: Karen E
authors: KE
authors: Edison
authors: Kush
authors: K
authors: Kapur
authors: Lizy
authors: L
authors: Thottapurathu
authors: Srihari
authors: S
authors: Raju
authors: Bethany
authors: B
authors: Cook
authors: Holly
authors: H
authors: Engasser
authors: Samantha
authors: S
authors: Pullen
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Parks
authors: Tom
authors: T
authors: Sindowski
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Motyka
authors: Rodney
authors: R
authors: Brown
authors: Thomas E
authors: TE
authors: Moritz
authors: Santanu K
authors: SK
authors: Datta
authors: Mary-Margaret
authors: MM
authors: Chren
authors: Lucinda
authors: L
authors: Marty
authors: Domenic J
authors: DJ
authors: Reda
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine; D013997:Time Factors