Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Dermatology , Telemedicine , Hospitals , Humans , Pandemics , Referral and ConsultationABSTRACT
Background: Patient reluctance to engage in telemedicine remains a key challenge to digital expansion in the era of COVID-19. Teledermatology, in particular, is heavily impacted by this, given its’ foundation in visual assessments. An understanding of patient attitudes towards digital image sharing and determinants of these attitudes is necessary to address patient-centered barriers to teledermatology adoption. Objective: To evaluate digital image sharing preferences and predictors of patient preferences. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of pooled data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 4, Cycle 3 and 4, a cross-sectional survey of 6,437 US adults. Differences in willingness to electronically exchange digital images/videos (e.g., skin lesions) with providers were compared by patient characteristics and beliefs. Results: Overall, 53.5% of US adults reported disinclination towards digitally exchanging images and videos with their providers. Disinterest was greater in adults aged 75 or above (70.9%), retired (67.3%), with less than a high school education (65.1%), with less than $20,000 annual income (60.9%), and limited English proficiency (63.3%). Further, aversion was also higher among adults who distrust health information from doctors (75.4%), lack mobile device ownership (77.1%), and have fair or poor health (60.4%). Conclusion: Disinclination towards digital image sharing may pose challenges for teledermatology adoption among certain groups during this period of telehealth growth. Improved efforts targeting barriers to adoption, including older age, lower socioeconomic status, language barriers, worse health, and poorer physician-patient relationship dynamics, are needed to ensure vulnerable groups are not left without needed dermatologic care.