TLDR Smartphone-based teledermatology is effective for diagnosing skin diseases in the military with good accuracy.
In a 2014 study involving 100 male Korean army patients, researchers assessed the accuracy of teledermatology consultations for common skin diseases using smartphone multimedia messaging service (MMS). The study found a mean diagnostic agreement of 71% between teledermatology and face-to-face consultations, with a kappa coefficient of 0.73, indicating substantial agreement. Sensitivity and specificity values for diagnosing eczema, viral warts, and fungal infections varied, with fungal infections having a notably lower sensitivity at 61%. Despite some limitations, such as potential misdiagnoses due to insufficient patient information in MMS texts, the study concluded that smartphone-based teledermatology could be an effective and low-cost method for diagnosing skin diseases in military settings, with superior accuracy compared to non-specialist clinicians.
41 citations,
January 2012 in “Journal of Korean Medical Science” Over 60% of Korean military personnel had skin diseases, commonly acne and athlete's foot, linked to service length and stress.
54 citations,
September 2005 in “Australasian Journal of Dermatology” Dermatologists are more accurate than general practitioners in diagnosing skin conditions, especially skin cancer.
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April 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Low-cost videomicroscopes may not be reliable for diagnosing scalp disorders, smartphones could be reasonable for teledermatology, and U.S. residency programs need more teledermatology training.
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20 citations,
August 2019 in “Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare” Dermatologists found teledermatology useful and confidence-boosting for diagnosing skin conditions, but faced limitations like technical issues and prescription restrictions. Despite this, they saw its potential to improve access to skin care, especially in remote areas.
