Patient Factors Associated with Interest in Teledermatology: Cross-sectional Survey

Introduction

Teledermatology is a conduit for patients communicating with dermatologists on the internet, which bypasses in-person visits. It can occur through a live videoconferencing or by sending photographs for asynchronous review [1]. Patients may work with their general practitioners (GP) to contact a dermatologist via telehealth, or they can initiate the interaction themselves directly [2]. With evolving technology, camera phones can click photographs of sufficient quality to meet teledermatology standards, with potential for broad patient adoption without facilitation from an intermediary GP [2]. Implementation of teledermatology has recently been accelerated during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic [3].

Teledermatology has the ability to increase medical care access to diverse populations at reduced costs and wait times [1,4]. High levels of concordance in diagnosis have been noted between teledermatology and in-person consultations [5]. However, there remains a knowledge gap in the characteristics of patients who use teledermatology. Previous studies suggest that demographics such as young age, high income, and high educational status are correlated with increased eHealth literacy, which refers to the ability to search, obtain, and understand web-based health information [6], as well as increased health app usage [7] and communication with physicians on the internet [8]. However, these studies did not explore the factors that influence patient interest in participating specifically in teledermatology.

Consideration of the identified characteristics of individuals who are less interested in using teledermatology in the context of the digital divide has implications for health equity as teledermatology expands. The digital divide encompasses a broad range of variables that contribute to the gap in the ability to access and use digital devices [9]. The exchange of images or videos distinguishes teledermatology from the more general telemedicine. Exchanging images requires more advanced technologic skills, with particular attention to be paid to aspects pertaining to image quality such as focus, lighting, and background [10]. Teledermatology requires a minimal bandwidth to adequately participate in videoconferencing [10]. Identifying the images of the patient may pose a potential vulnerability and require substantial patient trust in the technological platform.

In this study, we aimed to determine sociodemographic correlates with patient interest in exchanging images and videos electronically with health care providers in the nationally representative Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) of the National Cancer Institute. We hypothesized that teledermatology adoption by various subpopulations may be mediated by differential levels of access to and interest in exchanging images and videos with their health care providers.

Methods

Study Sample

We examined data from HINTS 4 cycle 4 (2014) of the National Cancer Institute. HINTS is a cross-sectional, nationally representative household survey conducted annually, which collects information on demographics and the perceptions and use of health information, and provides information on how cancer risks are perceived. HINTS 4 cycle 4 had a sample of 3677 participants. Data from 2014 were used because the outcome of interest, “How interested are you in exchanging digital images or video (eg, photos of skin lesions) with a health care provider electronically?” was only available in this cycle. Details about HINTS data collection, including weighting methodologies, is described elsewhere. The institutional review board of Emory University exempted this study from review.

Sociodemographic and Health Behavior Correlates

The covariates include sociodemographic variables as well as access and use of the internet such as the following: self-reported gender, age, education, race and ethnicity, annual household income level, seeing a health professional regularly, having health insurance, using the internet, using electronic devices to share medical information with a health professional, and using various devices (if any) with or without health apps on them. The survey question on devices was, “please indicate if you have one of the following electronic devices: tablet, smartphone, cellphone, etc.” The responses were as follows: “(1) tablet computer like an iPad, Samsung, Galaxy Tab, Motorola Xoom, or Kindle Fire, only; (2) smartphone such as an iPhone, Android phone, Blackberry device, or a Windows phone; (3) basic cellphone only; and (4) multiple devices listed.” The survey question regarding health apps contained on one’s electronic device was, “on your tablet or smartphone, do you have any software apps related to health?” The answer choices were as follows: “yes,” “no,” and “don’t know.” These 2 questions were combined to generate 1 variable to specify the type of electronic device a participant owned and if there were health apps installed on that device.

We also assessed cancer information–seeking behavior, including, but not limited to, skin cancer. Cancer-related covariates included the following: seeking cancer information, trusting web-based information on cancer, and using the internet to obtain cancer-related information for oneself in the past 12 months.

Outcome: Interest in Using Teledermatology

The primary outcome was defined by the following question: “how interested are you in exchanging information like digital images or video (eg, photos of skin lesions) with a health care provider electronically?” We dichotomized the outcome by a high level of interest (responding with “very”) and those who did not have a high level of interest (responding with “somewhat,” “a little,” or “not at all”) in exchanging images and videos with health care providers.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS (version 9.4, SAS Institute). Nationally representative prevalence estimates were obtained using jackknife replicate weights that accounted for the complex survey design. For bivariate analyses, the associations between specific sociodemographic groups and interest in sharing photographs or videos were assessed using unconditional logistic regression. We used complete cases analysis for logistic regression owing to the low proportion of missing data (6%). A multivariable logistic regression model was developed through backwards selection, with all final covariates associated with varying levels of teledermatology use at P<.05. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis was performed by changing the outcome dichotomy to model those who were “not at all” interested. Two-sided tests were performed with P<.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results

The response rate of HINTS 4 cycle 4 was 34%. In total, 3677 respondents fully completed 3529 surveys and partially completed 148 surveys. Demographic characteristics of survey respondents by the level of their interest in teledermatology are summarized in Table 1. A total of 888 of 3447 (weighted prevalence=26.2%) participants were very interested, 784 (22.8%) were somewhat interested, 515 (16.2%) were a little interested, and 1260 (34.8%) were not at all interested.

As shown in Table 1, the socioeconomic demographic characteristics associated with high levels of interest in sharing photographs or videos were the female gender (P=.02), young age (P<.001), high levels of education (P=.001), high annual household income range (P<.001), having a regular medical provider (P=.02), trusting web-based information on cancer (P<.001), using the internet (P<.001), sharing medical information with medical providers (P<.001), and having multiple electronic devices, including smartphones and tablets, with health apps (for both P<.001).

Multivariable modeling in Table 2 shows that trust in web-based information on cancer (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8) is associated with high levels of interest in exchanging images.

Sharing medical information electronically with a health care professional (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.9) is associated with high levels of interest in exchanging images (Table 2). Sensitivity analysis revealed that individuals who reported no interest in exchanging images were less likely to have shared medical information electronically with a health care professional (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.4).

Having multiple devices with health apps (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5-4.6) is associated with high levels of interest in exchanging images (Table 2). Sensitivity analysis revealed that individuals reporting no interest in exchanging images were less likely to own multiple devices with health apps (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.5), own multiple devices without health apps (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.7), own a tablet device without health apps (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9), own a smartphone with health apps (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8), and own a smartphone without health apps (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.7).

Age, gender, annual household income, education, having a regular medical provider, internet usage, having health insurance, and trusting web-based information on cancer were not significant predictors of a high level of interest in teledermatology after adjusting for the aforementioned variables.

Discussion

Principal Findings

High levels of interest in using teledermatology were associated with modifiable behaviors such as the use of devices with health apps, trust in web-based information on cancer, and prior experiences in exchanging health information with physicians on the internet. Sociodemographic factors such as young age, female gender, high education, and high household income were not associated with an increased interest in exchanging images of skin lesions with health care providers after adjusting for these modifiable variables. Future implementation of teledermatology should address these identified factors within the digital divide to provide equitable access to care across diverse patient populations.

Access to devices and how they are used are aspects of the digital divide, which can be adjusted. Physical access to the internet was found to be the most significant predictor of web-based patient-provider communication [9]. Once access is established, usage becomes the rate-limiting factor, which depends on the ability to retrieve and search for information on the internet and to use mobile health apps [11,12]. Users of mobile health apps are more likely to exhibit health-promoting behaviors than those who own similar devices but do not use health apps [11]. A potential barrier to the use of health apps is privacy concerns with inputting personal data into digital devices. Digital health information requires high levels of eHealth literacy to effect action [13]. Mobile device and health app usage is associated with characteristics previously linked to increased eHealth literacy, such as young age, higher education, and high income [7,14]. However, unlike age, education, and income, access and usage of devices can be modified to enhance teledermatology implementation.

Trust in web-based information on cancer can be directed to mediate interest in teledermatology usage. Trust is a necessary antecedent to the development of eHealth literacy and engagement with health information [15,16]. Trust in web-based health information is associated with higher education and the disclosure of health information on the internet, which are factors linked to eHealth literacy [17]. Even among groups with increased eHealth literacy, young individuals have higher trust in web-based health care services than their older counterparts [18]. Patient trust in a telemedicine service can be broken down into their trust in the organization, treatment, care professional, and technology [19]. Increased trust in the telehealth service can be gained when patients are referred by other health care professionals [20]. Moreover, face-to-face interactions with the provider prior to a web-based consultation also increases patient trust [21]. The provider should ensure that patient concerns are being addressed as this will increase trust in the telehealth provider and the treatment plan [21].

Prior experience in exchanging health information on the internet is an adjustable factor that can be targeted to increase interest in exchanging digital images. Lack of knowledge and experience with web-based patient-provider communication is found to impede its use [9], while prior experience with sharing medical information electronically is associated with higher interest in exchanging digital images with providers [15]. As patients expand their experiences with digital technology within and outside of the health care context, patients will have the opportunity to develop trust in teledermatology services [19].

Teledermatology interventions are implemented and expanded across populations to bridge the digital divide [22]. For example, the US Department of Veteran Affairs has expanded the reach of teledermatology by loaning electronic devices to veterans and provided training in using the devices so that veterans can more easily connect with the existing telehealth networks [23]. They have also attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures through a survey on patient satisfaction with teledermatology use and its contributory factors [24]. Our study found that factors malleable to influence—use of health apps, trust, and experience—are barriers that can be mediated to increase the reach, adoption, and effectiveness of teledermatology.

Limitations

There were some limitations to this study. The cross-sectional nature of the HINTS data precluded the establishment of causal relationships between the usage, trust, and prior experience in using health apps and the interest in teledermatology. The measured outcome was available only in HINTS 4 cycle 4 (2014); more recent data were not available to address the study question. All survey responses were self-reported and subject to information bias. We could not exclude residual confounding variables from additional unmeasured or unexamined variables. We were unable to distinguish the history of skin cancer from that of other cancers when controlling for covariates related to information-seeking behaviors associated with cancer. Interest in exchanging images on the internet might differ if the patient worked with GPs to send images to a teledermatology service or if the service is directly patient-initiated, and this aspect should be examined in future studies. Future studies should explore how well patients and GPs follow teledermatology guidelines on taking adequate images. We were unable to assess if interests in teledermatology translated directly to teledermatology usage or adherence to recommendations from teledermatology services.

Conclusions

In conclusion, modifiable access barriers to teledermatology adoption included experience with exchanging health information on the internet, trust in web-based information on cancer, and the use of mobile health apps. Future implementation of teledermatology should address these identified factors within the digital divide to provide equitable access to care across diverse patient populations.