ABSTRACT

Teledermatology utilizes telecommunication technologies for the transfer of dermatologic information across distances. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of dermatologists on teledermatology, common methods that are widely used in their daily practices and their general approach in case of setting up teledermatology units.

In this study, planned as cross-sectional and descriptive, a questionnaire comprising 15 questions was sent to dermatologists via electronic mail. The questionnaires which were returned completely and correctly within 8 weeks were included in the study.

Of the 116 questionnaires evaluated, 37.2% of participants were working at universities, while 28% were working at training and research hospitals, 27% were working at public hospitals and the other 18.1% were working at private hospitals. Moreover, 94% of the participants did not have teledermatology units in their clinics, and while 50% of participants had a minor level of information about teledermatology, 25.9% of them had only a moderate level of information. The most common method of teledermatology (43.10%, (50/116) is performed by sending photographs of patients to the dermatologists via electronic mail (store and forward) for ”consultation”. It was stated that 55.2% of dermatologists demands official setting up and implementation of teledermatology units in our country “excessively” while 30.2% of them demands it “considerably”.

Although many of our colleagues have a lack of information about teledermatology, a considerable number of them could use teledermatology in their daily practices and they support the official use of teledermatology in Turkey.