A pilot study examining the use of mobile camera phones as a teleconsultation tool in surgical practice

Abstract

PurposeMost clinicians carry a mobile camera phone at work. Although previous studies have shown these devices are useful teleconsultation tools when remotely analysing wounds, their use has yet to be fully explored with other diagnostic images used in the management of general surgical inpatients. The aim of this study was to further determine the reliability of camera phones in this setting.Materials and methodsA standard mobile camera phone was used to capture images of 5 electrocardiograms (ECGs), 10 plain radiographs (X-rays), and 5 surgical wounds from general surgical inpatients. Twenty clinicians were sent these images and asked to identify abnormalities on them, prior to reviewing hard copies and amending their answers accordingly. They were also asked to describe a suitable management plan for each wound.ResultsClinicians examining camera phone images correctly identified 77% of abnormalities on chest radiographs, 38% on abdominal radiographs, and 59% on ECGs. Diagnostic sensitivity increased to 96% for abnormalities on chest X-rays, 56% on abdominal radiographs, and 76% on ECGs when original hard copies were examined. Eighty-five per cent of management plans based on the photograph of a wound were correct.ConclusionsThis study suggests that mobile camera phones are appropriate teleconsultation devices when considering the management of wounds, but are less convincing remote assessors of both ECGs and plain films.