ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted dermatology services into a digital era, with the rapid introduction of teleconsultations. The UK National Health Service operational planning guidance recommends ≥ 25% of consultations are delivered remotely. There is a lack of data regarding the acceptability and effectiveness of paediatric dermatology teleconsultations. We surveyed UK healthcare professionals (HCPs) to explore their experiences of teleconsultations in paediatric dermatology, with a focus on follow-up consultations for paediatric eczema (PE), to inform a future clinical trial. There were 119 responses. Pre-pandemic, 37% provided some form of teleconsultation service, rising to 92% post-pandemic. In total, 41% (n = 49) now carry out > 25% of consultations remotely. We found 55% felt teleconsultations were less effective than face-to-face ones for PE follow-up. Eighty HCPs offered teleconsultations for PE. Among the HPCs who offered teleconsultations for PE, the most effective format for follow-up consultations was felt to be telephone with photographs (52/80, 65%). Our results demonstrate varying opinion on the effectiveness and optimal format of paediatric teleconsultations, supporting the need for further research.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Dermatology , Eczema , Remote Consultation , Humans , Child , Remote Consultation/methods , COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , State Medicine , Eczema/diagnosis , Eczema/therapy , United KingdomSubject(s)
COVID-19 , Dermatology/methods , Photography , Referral and Consultation , Skin Diseases/diagnosis , Skin Diseases/therapy , Telemedicine/methods , Triage/methods , Acne Vulgaris/diagnosis , Acne Vulgaris/therapy , Alopecia/diagnosis , Alopecia/therapy , Delivery of Health Care , Dermatology/organization & administration , Eczema/diagnosis , Eczema/therapy , Humans , Intertrigo/diagnosis , Intertrigo/therapy , Primary Health Care , Psoriasis/diagnosis , Psoriasis/therapy , SARS-CoV-2 , Skin Diseases, Infectious/diagnosis , Skin Diseases, Infectious/therapy , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Telephone , United Kingdom , Urticaria/diagnosis , Urticaria/therapyABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the practice of paediatric allergy. RECENT FINDINGS: Given significant overlap in symptoms, care must be taken to differentiate routine allergic conditions from COVID-19 infection but it appears that most allergic diseases are not risk factors for a severe COVID-19 course. The full impact of restricted allergy/immunology ambulatory services will take months to years to fully understand. One benefit of having to adapt practice style is greater awareness and acceptance of shared decision-making and recognition of preference-sensitive care options in food allergy, in particular for approaches towards allergy prevention, treatment, and anaphylaxis care. Social distancing and masks have helped reduce spread of common respiratory viruses, which may be helping to lower the incidence of viral-associated wheezing episodes, enhancing evidence of the effects of preventing exposure of young children to respiratory viruses on asthma pathogenesis, as well as on allergic rhinitis. There has been a revolution in the rise of telemedicine to increase access to high-quality allergy/immunology specialty care. SUMMARY: Although the field has adapted to remain operational in the face of a significant challenge, it is important to apply lessons learned to evolve patient care and optimize treatment in the aftermath of the pandemic.