title: Consumer acceptance of patient-performed mobile teledermoscopy for the early detection of melanoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobile teledermoscopy allows consumers to send images of skin lesions to a teledermatologist for remote diagnosis. Currently, technology acceptance of mobile teledermoscopy by people at high risk of melanoma is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine the acceptance of mobile teledermoscopy by consumers based on perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, attitude/intention, subjective norms, facilitators and trust before use. Consumer satisfaction was explored after use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consumers aged 50-64 years at high risk of melanoma (fair skin or previous skin cancer) were recruited from a population-based cohort study and via media announcements in Brisbane, Australia in 2013. The participants completed a 27-item questionnaire preteledermoscopy modified from a technology acceptance model. The first 49 participants with a suitable smartphone then conducted mobile teledermoscopy in their homes for early detection of melanoma and were asked to rate their satisfaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The preteledermoscopy questionnaire was completed by 228 participants. Most participants (87%) agreed that mobile teledermoscopy would improve their skin self-examination performance and 91% agreed that it would be in their best interest to use mobile teledermoscopy. However, nearly half of participants (45%) were unsure about whether they had complete trust in the telediagnosis. The participants who conducted mobile teledermoscopy (n = 49) reported that the dermatoscope was easy to use (94%) and motivated them to examine their skin more often (86%). However, 18% could not take photographs in hard-to-see areas and 35% required help to submit the photograph to the teledermatologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobile teledermoscopy consumer acceptance appears to be favourable. This new technology warrants further assessment for its utility in the early detection of melanoma or follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Horsham
authors.affiliation: The University of Arizona Colleges of Nursing and Public Health, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Loescher
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland, School of Medicine, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Soyer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D046169:Dermoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods