Current and Future Dermatology

Aims:The shortage of dermatologists in rural and regional Australia is acutely felt in north Queensland where the population experiences a leading burden of skin cancer and tropical dermatoses.Store-and-forward teledermatology (SAFT) is recognised as a potential solution to improve accessibility of dermatology specialist care in rural communities.eConsult (an SAFT service) was piloted for the broader Townsville community in 2022.Evaluation was necessary to ensure wider implementation would meet stakeholder needs and improve patient care.The objective was to evaluate clinician perspectives and use of eConsult within the Townsville Hospital and Health service catchment over the pilot period (up to 9 months).Methods: Pre-engagement interviews with clinicians assessed their management of dermatoses and service expectations prior to eConsult usage.eConsult referrals identified case characteristics, outcomes and uptake of the service among clinicians.Post-engagement interviews assessed clinician perceptions and their suggestions for the service at the conclusion of eConsult's pilot period.Results: In this study, 24 and 17 clinicians participated in the pre-and post-engagement interviews, respectively, and 38 referrals were submitted by clinicians.This study suggests that an SAFT service can improve access to dermatology specialist opinion and increase the management of dermatoses in primary care.The service assisted diagnosis and management of non-urgent skin conditions for any age group.Clinicians generally had positive perceptions and appreciated timely access to local specialist advice. Conclusion:Establishing sustainable teledermatology services with strong engagement from users is important for accessible care.Future research may investigate similar SAFT models involving more specialists and assess long-term cost-effectiveness.