Can dermatologists reach their full potential in teledermatology? A validation study of diagnostic performance of skin diseases in live video conferencing teledermatology.

The diagnostic accuracy rate of live videoconferencing (LVC) teledermatology, by board-certified dermatologists compared to non-dermatologists has not yet been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of board-certified dermatologists, dermatology specialty trainees, and board-certified internists in LVC teledermatology. We examined the diagnostic accuracy of clinicians from different specialties in diagnosing the same group of patients. The clinicians were isolated from each other during the diagnosis process. We enrolled 18 volunteer physicians (six board-certified dermatologists, six dermatology specialty trainees, and six board-certified internists) who reviewed the skin conditions of 18 patients via LVC teledermatology. The diagnostic accuracy of the participating physicians was evaluated using the final diagnosis as the reference standard. The diagnostic accuracy averages were compared according to the physicians' specialties and disease categories. The mean ± standard deviation diagnostic accuracy of the most detailed level diagnosis was 83.3% ± 3.5% (range, 77.8%-89.0%) for board-certified dermatologists, 53.7 ± 20.7% (range 27.8%-77.8%) for dermatology specialty trainees, and 27.8 ± 5.0% (range, 22.2%-33.3%) for board-certified internists. Board-certified dermatologists showed significantly higher diagnostic accuracy, not only against board-certified internists (p < 0.0001) but also against dermatology specialty trainees (p < 0.05). Disease categories with high accuracy rates (≥80%) only by board-certified dermatologists were inflammatory papulosquamous dermatoses (87.5%), compared to 58.3%, and 20.8% for dermatology specialty trainees and board-certified internists respectively). For inflammatory erythemas and other reactive inflammatory dermatoses the accuracy rates for board-certified dermatologists, dermatology specialty trainees, and board-certified internists were 83.3%, 33.3%, 8.3% respectively; for melanoma in situ neoplasms, 83.3%, 50.0%, 66.7% respectively), and for genetic disorders of keratinization 83.3%, 33.3%, and 0% respectively). Our findings showed that board-certified dermatologists may have high diagnostic accuracy with practical safety and effectiveness in LVC teledermatology.