Current management of skin conditions in Kenya: exploring teledermatology preferences and perspectives among providers
Background:. Teledermatology programs may help expand access to care for skin conditions in areas that are underserved by dermatologists such as sub-Saharan Africa, but their success requires input from participating providers. Objective:. This study assesses teledermatology preferences among health...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer
2025-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Women's Dermatology |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/10.1097/JW9.0000000000000196 |
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| Summary: | Background:. Teledermatology programs may help expand access to care for skin conditions in areas that are underserved by dermatologists such as sub-Saharan Africa, but their success requires input from participating providers.
Objective:. This study assesses teledermatology preferences among healthcare providers in Kenya.
Methods:. An anonymous cross-sectional survey of nondermatology providers was conducted in Kenya from January to March 2024 at Aga Khan University Hospital-Nairobi and Kijabe Hospital.
Results:. Among the 38 providers, 81.6% were physicians. Patient population was primarily Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. Almost all (97.4%) regularly encountered patients with skin disorders, yet only 5.3% felt comfortable diagnosing and treating 80 to 100% of these disorders independently. Providers anticipated referring cases of rashes (76.3%), unclear diagnoses (63.2%), and infectious diseases (50%), among others, for teledermatology consultation. Only 10.5% reported utilizing teledermatology, although the majority believed it would be useful (91.9%) and improve patient care (89.5%). Preferred response time was <24 hours (81.6%). Most favored submitting cases via personal cell phones (86.8%), with 87.9% preferring submission through WhatsApp.
Limitations:. Participants owned smartphones. The survey was distributed via WhatsApp.
Conclusion:. Nearly all providers in Kenya see patients with skin conditions, but few utilize teledermatology services. Teledermatology could be extremely beneficial for patients and providers seeking dermatologic expertise. |
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| ISSN: | 2352-6475 |