Correlación del Teleateneo con el Ateneo presencial de Dermatología en el diagnóstico de las patologías cutáneas / Correlation Between Face-to-Face Assessment and Telemedicine for the Diagnosis of Skin Disease in Case Conferences

Introducción: El Ateneo de Dermatología de Panamá es una reunión científico-docente semanal que agrupa a todos los dermatólogos del país para dar una segunda opinión consensuada a aquellos dermatólogos que consultan por casos complicados. Desafortunadamente el Ateneo está menos disponible para los pacientes del interior del país debido a diversas barreras de accesibilidad. En el Teleateneo de Dermatología se utiliza la telemedicina para atender a aquellos pacientes que no tienen la posibilidad de asistir a esta reunión. No existen estudios en Panamá que determinen la utilidad de esta variante del Ateneo. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si existe correlación entre la capacidad diagnóstica de los dermatólogos del Teleateneo y la de los que examinaban a los pacientes en el Ateneo presencial. Material y método: Estudio analítico, correlacional, cuasi-experimental, aleatorizado y abierto. Los dermatólogos fueron divididos en dos grupos al azar: Ateneo presencial y Teleateneo. Se les expuso a 30 casos clínicos y se determinó el grado de correlación (kappa de Cohen) entre la capacidad diagnóstica de los dermatólogos de cada grupo. Resultados: El 63,33% de los pacientes era del sexo femenino y el 30% tenía 50-59 años. El grado de correlación fue bueno (к=0,6512) entre el grupo de Teleateneo y el de Ateneo presencial. Se descartaron diferencias significativas de capacitación entre ambos grupos. Conclusiones: El Teleateneo puede ser utilizado con seguridad como una herramienta de apoyo al diagnóstico del dermatólogo cuyo paciente no puede asistir a la sesión de Ateneo presencial (patrón oro ) (AU)

Background: In Panama, weekly case conferences are held in which all dermatologists from throughout the country agree on a second opinion for the diagnosis of complicated cases. Unfortunately, patients from the interior of the country may have difficulty attending these case conferences. An alternative in such situations is the use of telemedicine. To date, however, no studies have been undertaken on the effectiveness of this approach in Panama. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of correlation between the diagnoses obtained in case conferences involving face-to-face examination and those involving telemedicine. Material and method: A quasi-experimental non blinded analysis of correlation was carried out in which dermatologists were randomly assigned to 2 groups: face-to-face examination and telemedicine. Both groups were asked to assess 30 cases and the degree of correlation (Cohen κ coefficient) between the diagnoses made by each group was assessed. Results: The patient group included 19 women (63.3%) and 9 patients (30%) were aged between 50 and 59 years. There was a good correlation (κ=0.6512) between the results of teledermatology and face-to-face examination. Significant differences in the diagnostic skills of the 2 groups were ruled out. Conclusions: Teledermatology can be used effectively to facilitate diagnosis in case conferences involving patients who cannot attend in person (gold standard) (AU)

[Correlation between face-to-face assessment and telemedicine for the diagnosis of skin disease in case conferences]. / Correlación del Teleateneo con el Ateneo presencial de Dermatología en el diagnóstico de las patologías cutáneas.

BACKGROUND: In Panama, weekly case conferences are held in which all dermatologists from throughout the country agree on a second opinion for the diagnosis of complicated cases. Unfortunately, patients from the interior of the country may have difficulty attending these case conferences. An alternative in such situations is the use of telemedicine. To date, however, no studies have been undertaken on the effectiveness of this approach in Panama. The aim of this study was to assess the degree of correlation between the diagnoses obtained in case conferences involving face-to-face examination and those involving telemedicine. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A quasi-experimental nonblinded analysis of correlation was carried out in which dermatologists were randomly assigned to 2 groups: face-to-face examination and telemedicine. Both groups were asked to assess 30 cases and the degree of correlation (Cohen κ coefficient) between the diagnoses made by each group was assessed. RESULTS: The patient group included 19 women (63.3%) and 9 patients (30%) were aged between 50 and 59 years. There was a good correlation (κ=0.6512) between the results of teledermatology and face-to-face examination. Significant differences in the diagnostic skills of the 2 groups were ruled out. CONCLUSIONS: Teledermatology can be used effectively to facilitate diagnosis in case conferences involving patients who cannot attend in person (gold standard).