title: Primary care providers' perceptions of mobile store-and-forward teledermatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although teledermatology offers promise as a tool to increase access to care, adoption has been limited. Understanding the perspectives and experiences of key stakeholders, such as primary care providers (PCPs) and patients, is important to identify opportunities to reduce barriers to adoption and to improve teledermatology programs. Although many studies have examined patients' experiences and satisfaction with teledermatology, few have examined referring PCPs' perspectives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify PCPs' perceptions on the strengths and limitations of teledermatology in order to identify opportunities to improve teledermatology programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We distributed an anonymous, web-based survey to 30 PCPs involved in a two-year study evaluating a mobile app-based teledermatology platform.
  
  
  RESULTS
  100% (18/18) agreed or strongly agreed that teledermatology increases access to dermatologic care, improves patient care, and is acceptable to patients. 100% (18/18) agreed or strongly agreed that teledermatology provides educational benefit to the PCP. Only 6% (1/18) agreed that teledermatology increases medical liability and 11% (2/18) agreed that it increases risk of a breach in privacy or confidentiality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings highlight that PCPs are highly satisfied with mobile app-based, store-and-forward teledermatology and that they believe teledermatology offers synergistic educational benefit. We hope these results will help guide the development of teledermatology programs to increase access to timely, cost-effective care.
authors.affiliation: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.forename: Caroline A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Kent D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bream
authors.forename: Carrie L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kovarik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003219:Confidentiality; D017046:Cost Savings; D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D020407:Internet; D016365:Liability, Legal; D063731:Mobile Applications; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012637:Security Measures; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data