Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on teledermatology among dermatologists in the Philippines

ABSTRACT

Background@#Teledermatology has been widely used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to overcome barriers in access to care. The objective of this study was to assess the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding teledermatology among dermatologists in the Philippines.@*Materials and Methods@#This was a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted from January 2022 to April 2022, among Filipino dermatologists using a self-administered online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the demographics of the participants. The two-sample t-test, Chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression model were used to analyze the data.@*Results@#Out of 113 respondents, 108 (95.5%) had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward teledermatology. The majority (110/113, 97.35%) practiced teledermatology. The most commonly used platform was instant messaging applications(78/100, 70.91%), and the most common factor that influenced their practice was patient demands or needs(74/110, 67.27%). Those who did not practice teledermatology cited technological difficulties as the main reason.@*Conclusion@#Teledermatology was widely used by Filipino dermatologists to provide remote care during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to fully utilize its potential and limit potential issues associated with its use even after the pandemic, continuous training and education among dermatologists and a more enabling technological environment may be needed.