None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
New Zealand has the highest rate of skin cancers in the world, which leads to a large number of referrals to skin specialists in hospitals. In this study, we want to see whether taking photos of suspicious moles or spots in the skin with a sophisticated camera and sending these by computer to skin specialists for a diagnosis is as accurate as being seen by skin specialists for a “face to face” diagnosis. This “teledermatology” approach may be able to reduce the number of patients who need to be seen in hospital outpatient clinics. This phase II study will test the accuracy of teledermatology and assess whether it can be used in a larger study to prove the benefits of this technology. The aim is to improve healthcare delivery and costs, overcome geographical barriers and improve care for the most vulnerable groups affected by skin cancer – the young and elderly.
Interventions
Teledermoscopy (taking close-up photographs of skin lesions with special equipment) takes 5-10 minutes. Immediately afterwards patients have a face-to-face consultation with a dermatology specialist lasting 10-15 minutes.
Sponsors
Dr Eugene Tan
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
0 to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients referred from General Practitioners to the lesion diagnosis clinic
Exclusion criteria
Lesions located over genital areas; lack of patient consent; inability to obtain adequate image e.g. in hair-bearing area, in concave site such as inner canthus
Outcome results
None listed