The Patients’ Experiences of Telemedicine for their skin problems: A qualitative study in Singapore (Preprint)

Background Teledermatology is a cost-effective treatment modality for the management of skin disorders. Most evaluations use quantitative data, and far less understood about patients’ experience. Objective This qualitative study aimed to explore perceptions teledermatology service linking public primary care clinics national specialist dermatology clinic in Singapore. A better understanding experiences can help refine develop provided. Methods Semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with patients who had been referred service. The digitally recorded transcribed before undergoing thematic content analysis. Results total 21 aged between 22 72 years recruited. following 3 themes identified from data experiences: positive teledermatology, concerns ideas improving found convenient, saving them time expense liberating stresses incurred when making an in-person visit facility. They valued confidence reassurance they gained having dermatologist involved deciding their management. concern included security quality images shared. Nonetheless, keen see expanded beyond polyclinics. Their will inform future refinement development. Conclusions narrative exploration users’ produced rich enabling journey, way understand interpret experiences, refinement. Telemedicine reduces traveling enables safe distancing, factors that are much needed during pandemics.