Shaping the future of teledermatology: a literature review of patient and provider satisfaction with synchronous teledermatology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

SummaryFollowing the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, widespread adoption of synchronous teledermatology (e.g., live videoconferencing) has increased patient and provider familiarity. To our knowledge, no teledermatology reviews have exclusively characterized patient and provider satisfaction with synchronous models of teledermatology. This study determines the quantitative evaluation of patient and provider satisfaction through a literature review of synchronous teledermatology studies conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A review of the literature was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines within the PubMed database. Search terms included, but were not limited to, teledermatology, patient satisfaction, and provider satisfaction. Studies were evaluated for quality of evidence based on guidelines described by the Oxford Center for Evidence‐based Medicine. Fifteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria which described the satisfaction of 7871 patients and 146 providers with synchronous teledermatology during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Patients and providers were overall satisfied with access measures, the patient‐ provider relationship and the ability of synchronous teledermatology to meet patient needs. Limitations of the virtual physical exam and image or video quality were two consistent limiting factors in patient and provider experience, respectively. Patients and providers perceive that synchronous teledermatology meets the needs of the patient. Patients perceived satisfactory patient‐provider relationship through synchronous teledermatology. Practices can identify best applications and educate patients on expectations of the virtual examination in order to enhance utilization and sustainability of synchronous teledermatology beyond the pandemic.