Table 2.
Clinical outcomes of store-and-forward teledermatology.
| Type | Setting | Sample | Outcome | Reference | |
| Clinician-initiated | |||||
|
|
Observational | 2-center study in the United States (Texas) | 508 adults | No significant difference between TDa (65% improved, 32% unchanged, and 3% worsened) and FTFb care (64% improved, 33% unchanged, and 4% worsened) as rated by a 3-point clinical course scale (P=.57) | Pak et al [20] |
|
|
Randomized controlled trial | 2-center study in the United States (Missouri and Minnesota) | 326 adults | No significant difference between TD and FTF care as evaluated by Skindex-16 at 3 (P=.66) and 9 (P=.39) months | Whited et al [21] |
|
|
Observational | Multicenter study in Spain | 2009 adults | 51.2% of patients with TD consults not referred to FTF clinic; waiting interval to clinic appointment was 12.31 (95% CI 8.22-16.40) days for TD referral and 88.62 (95% CI 38.42-138.82) days for traditional letter referral system | Moreno-Ramirez et al [22] |
|
|
Observational | Single-center study in the United States (California) | 149 adults | Mean time interval for TD versus conventional referral was 4 versus 48 days (P<.0001) for initial consult completion; 38 versus 57 days (P=.034) for time to biopsy; and 104 versus 125 days (P=.006) for time to surgery | Hsiao et al [23] |
|
|
Randomized controlled trial | Single-center study in France | 103 patients | Waiting interval to clinic was 4 days for TD referral and 40 days for conventional letter referral system (P<.01) | Piette et al [24] |
| Patient-initiated | |||||
|
|
Observational | Single-center study in France | 162 adults and children | Photographs of a skin lesion taken before a clinic visit changed treatment decisions in 36% of patients | Hubiche et al [6] |
|
|
Observational | Single-center study in the Netherlands | 105 adults and children | 23% of patients could have avoided FTF care, as determined by 3 dermatologists | Eminović et al [17] |
|
|
Observational | Single-center study in the United States (California) | 38 adults | Average time from patient concern to consultation was 0.8 (SD 1) days, and 75% of concerns could be managed remotely | Pathipati et al [25] |
aTD: teledermatology.
bFTF: face-to-face.