Consultant
Tine Vestergaard
Department of Dermatology, Odense University Hospital
| Project management | ||
| Project status | Sampling ongoing | |
| Data collection dates | ||
| Start | 01.01.2017 | |
| End | 31.03.2019 | |
Evaluation and implementation of teledermoscopy in General Practice
Short summary
In this study general practitioners (GPs), who suspect skin cancer in a patient, can send specialized photographs for evaluation by a skin cancer specialist. The patient is also referred for a face-to-face evaluation, and the diagnostic agreement between the to consultation methods will be assessed.
Rationale
The incidence of malignant melanoma and other skin cancers (e.g. squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, hereafter non-melanoma skin cancer) is steadily increasing in Denmark. It is crucial that melanoma is diagnosed as early as possible, since the early stages of the disease can be cured by surgery. In regards to non-melanoma skin cancer, an early diagnosis can facilitate the use of smaller surgical procedures or even non-invasive treatments. In the clinical evaluation of both suspected malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, the use of dermoscopy is essential. The accuracy of a clinical diagnosis of melanoma based on visual inspection by general practitioners is just over 50%. In the experienced hands of a dermatologist, the use of dermoscopy increases the sensitivity up to 90%.Previous studies have found an excellent correlation above 90% between the use of teledermoscopy and a traditional clinical examination using dermoscopy.
This study has the following aims:
- To assess the safety of teledermoscopic evaluation of patients with suspicious skin lesions referred from general practice.
- To assess whether incidental lesions are missed by teledermoscopy.
- To evaluate patients', GPs' and dermatologists' satisfaction with teledermoscopy.
- To calculate the change in average cost per patient by implementing teledermoscopy.
Description of the cohort
In this prospective study, general practitioners from 50 medical practices in the Region of Southern Denmark, are invited to participate. Consecutive patients over the age of 18 years, who consult their GP with a suspicious skin lesion or where the GP finds an incidental suspicious skin lesion, which the GP wishes to refer to a dermatologist for skin evaluation, can be included in the study.
Data and biological material
Standard photographs and dermoscopic images are obtained for each suspicious skin lesion. Questionnaires on patients', GPs' and dermatologists' experiences and satisfaction with teledermoscopy will be collected.
Collaborating researchers and departments
Department of Dermatology, Odense University Hospital
- Professor Anette Bygum, dr. med.
Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark
- General practitioner Merethe Kirstine Andersen, PhD
Center for Innovative Medical Technology, Odense University Hospital
- Kristian Kidholm, PhD
Publications associated with the project