Barriers to healthcare access in pediatric dermatology: A systematic review

Perspectives and Challenges of Telemedicine and Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Dermatology

BACKGROUND

Pediatric dermatology represents one of the most underserved subspecialties in pediatrics. Artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine have become considerable in dermatology, reaching diagnostic accuracy comparable to or exceeding that of in-person visits. This work aims to review the current state of telemedicine and AI in pediatric dermatology, suggesting potential ways to address existing issues and challenges.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review including only articles published in the last 15 years. A total of 458 studies were identified, of which only 76 were included.

RESULTS

Most of the studies on telemedicine evaluate accuracy focused on concordance, which ranges from 70% to 89% for the most common pediatric skin diseases. Telemedicine showed the potential to manage chronic dermatological conditions in children, as well as decrease waiting times, and represents the chance for unprivileged populations to overcome barriers limiting access to medical care. The main limitations of telemedicine consist of the language barrier and the need for adequate technologies and acceptable image-quality video, which can be overcome by AI. AI-driven apps and platforms can facilitate remote consultations between pediatric dermatologists and patients or their caregivers. However, the integration of AI into clinical practice faces some challenges ranging from technical to ethical and regulatory. It is crucial to ensure that the development, deployment, and utilization of AI systems conform to the seven fundamental requirements for trustworthy AI.

CONCLUSION

This study supplies a detailed discussion of open challenges with a particular focus on equity and ethical considerations and defining possible concrete directions.

Pediatric Dermatology in Canada: A Broad Review of Population Needs, Workforce and Training With Proposed Solutions

INTRODUCTION

The need for pediatric dermatology services is increasing across Canada. In parallel, the complexity of treatment with novel targeted therapeutics has increased. Currently, there is no accredited and limited non-accredited fellowship training access to pediatric dermatology in Canada.

HYPOTHESIS

Understanding the current state of pediatric dermatology training in Canada will provide insight into opportunities for strategic improvement.

METHODS

A survey was distributed to 44 pediatric dermatology providers. In addition, a review of the burden of pediatric skin disease and education/training in Canada was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-four specialists responded to the survey (77% response rate). One third of current pediatric dermatology providers are over 50 years old and half of these (15%) plan to retire within the next 5 years. Half of respondents were dermatologists, 35% were pediatricians, and 11% were double boarded. Almost all respondents practiced in an academic setting (94%). Most had further fellowship training in pediatric dermatology (82.4%) but only 57% achieved this training in Canada, due to lack of accredited or non-accredited funded fellowship positions.

CONCLUSION

There is a high and growing need for pediatric dermatology specialty care in a diverse range of settings. The current provider population and training programs are insufficient to meet current and future demands. We highlighted solutions to close this gap between supply and demand including increased double board certification in Pediatrics and Dermatology, a protected pediatric stream within existing Dermatology residency training programs and accredited fellowships in Pediatric Dermatology for both dermatologists and pediatricians.

Efficacy, perception, and utilization of pediatric teledermatology: A systematic review

Background

The use of teledermatology abruptly expanded with the arrival of COVID-19. Here, we review recent studies regarding the efficacy, perception, and utilization of telemedicine in the pediatric population.

Objective

To evaluate the current state of pediatric teledermatology.

Methods

A literature search was performed using the terms "pediatric," "teledermatology," "dermatology," "telemedicine" and "telehealth" in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. 44 articles published between 2008 and 2022 were included.

Results

Diagnostic concordance between pediatric teledermatologist and in-person dermatologist ranged from 70.1% to 89%. Conditions treated with pediatric teledermatology were similar to those treated in-person. The rate of in-person follow-up after an initial telemedicine appointment pre and postpandemic was 12% to 51.9% and 13.5% to 28.1%, respectively. Patient satisfaction with teledermatology was between 70% to 98% and provider satisfaction was approximately 95%. The integration of teledermatology can reduce missed appointments and wait times among pediatric patients. However, considerable technological challenges exist, particularly in underserved communities. Globally, teledermatology may expand access to care though limited literature exists regarding its use in pediatric populations.

Conclusion

Telemedicine is effective for the diagnosis and treatment of many dermatological conditions in children, with high patient and provider satisfaction. Implementation of teledermatology can potentially increase access to care both locally and globally, but obstacles to engagement remain.

Comparison of Patient and Provider Practices between Bone Marrow and Solid Organ Transplantation Programs for Patient Education on Increased Risk of Skin Cancer

Patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy following transplantation are at risk for skin cancer owing to dampened tumor surveillance. As long-term immunotherapy is necessary to prevent graft rejection, transplantation providers and recipients are expected to perform regular surveillance for the development of suspicious lesions, and recipients are encouraged to practice preventative sun safe behaviors. No consensus exists regarding the timing of full body skin exams, and despite the well-established risk, patient education is not always prioritized. We investigated whether differences exist between bone marrow transplant (BMT) and organ transplant (OT) recipients and their providers regarding prevention and screening. We distributed surveys to adult and pediatric BMT and OT recipients, as well as their providers, at a single academic institution. Results were evaluated using the chi-square test. The survey results show that most BMT recipients (69%) and OT recipients (77%) were aware of their increased risk for skin cancer, but despite this knowledge, only 13% of patients overall reported using sunscreen, 29% reported reapplying sunscreen, and 48% reported wearing sun protective clothing. Most OT recipients (63%) reported never having a total body skin exam, whereas only 34% BMT recipients reported having a total body skin exam every 6 months (P = .006). BMT providers recommended a total body skin exam every 6 or 12 months (44.4% each), and OT providers recommended a total body skin exam every 12 months (58.3%). Only 11.1% of BMT providers and 8.3% of OT providers reported performing a total body skin exam at each visit. Despite results indicating widespread patient knowledge of skin cancer risk, most patients do not practice adequate prevention. Inclusion of a transplantation dermatologist in the care team or use of risk stratification tools by providers may help streamline timely referrals to Dermatology.

Perspectives and knowledge of acne vulgaris among young adolescents

Acne occurs in up to 90% of young adolescents, but prior research has found that this population exhibits a limited understanding of acne and is vulnerable to myths and misinformation accumulated from family members, friends, and social media. We created a virtual presentation on skin hygiene, acne prevention, and acne-associated stigma for adolescent youth (aged 9-13) to improve acne health literacy, which was reviewed by three board-certified dermatologists. A descriptive cross-sectional study using data collected for quality improvement (n = 209, total) revealed that approximately half (n = 102/202, 50.5%) of all students believed that acne could not be treated with medications, only 34.0% (n = 67/197) believed acne could impact their mental health, and most students incorrectly believed that dirt buildup (n = 124/209, 59.3%) and poor hygiene (n = 125/209, 59.8%) were pathogenic for acne. Our results stress the necessity of early evidence-based educational interventions as a cornerstone to breaking self-perpetuating myths and misinformation that may lead to acne mismanagement, delayed access to healthcare, and permanent scarring later in life.

Defining patient-centered research priorities in pediatric dermatology

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Patient and caregiver perspectives are critical in understanding dermatologic disease impact, presentation, and management in children. The Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) Patient Advisory Committee (PtAC), a group of patient representatives and parents of children with cutaneous disease, pursued a multistep, iterative, consensus-building process to identify comprehensive, high-priority research needs.

METHODS

Building on discussions at the 2020 PeDRA Annual Conference, a research prioritization survey was developed and completed by PtAC members. Survey themes were aggregated and workshopped by the PtAC through a series of facilitated calls. Emerging priorities were refined in collaboration with additional PeDRA patient community members at the 2021 PeDRA Annual Conference. Subsequently, a final actionable list was agreed upon.

RESULTS

Fourteen PtAC members (86.7% female) representing patients with alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, vascular birthmarks, congenital melanocytic nevi, ectodermal dysplasias, epidermolysis bullosa, Gorlin syndrome, hidradenitis suppurativa, ichthyosis, pemphigus, psoriasis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and pachyonychia congenita completed the survey. Following serial PtAC meetings, 60 research needs were identified from five domains: psychosocial challenges, health care navigation/disease management, causes/triggers, treatments to preserve or save life, and treatments to preserve or save quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Many pediatric dermatology research priorities align across affected communities and may drive meaningful, patient-centric initiatives and investigations.

Disparities in the Use of Teledermatology During the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in a Pediatric Dermatology Practice

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid expansion of teledermatology services. Objective: Analyze demographic shifts in a pediatric dermatology practice session with children of color. Methods: A retrospective chart review of pediatric dermatology patients seen in the 4 practice weeks preceding the New York COVID-19 lockdown and comparable teledermatology visits during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Demographic differences (e.g., race, age, gender, and household income) were analyzed. Results: A greater proportion of patients seen were White during lockdown (59.7%), compared with pre-lockdown (43.6%), with a reduction in Asian patients seen in lockdown (6.0%) compared with pre-lockdown (24.5%). A lower proportion of no-show patients (4.3%, 3/70 scheduled) were noted in lockdown compared with pre-lockdown (16%, 18/112). Preferred provider organizations (PPO) and higher-income zip codes were more common for children seen during lockdown. Limitations: The sample addresses a limited New York pediatric dermatology practice during a short time period. Conclusions: White patients and patients with PPO were more likely to access telehealth, supporting disparity in teledermatology services. These results demonstrate reduced health care access for lower-income and Asian children during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Teledermatology: How It Is Impacting the Underserved

The rapid mobilization of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about renewed concern about the digital divide. Understanding the benefits and limitations of remote medical care is an ongoing process. Access to telemedicine appointments, as well as the experience of the virtual appointment itself, varies across demographic groups. Telemedicine has promise in dermatology. However, if it continues to expand beyond the pandemic, federal changes may be necessary to improve access to remote care for all patients moving forward. This involves creating mandates for increased broadband access, deploying digital health tools and portals usable by underserved populations, and increasing access to interpreters. Information technology personnel may also become necessary members of the clinical care team. Parity between video and phone visit reimbursement for providers is also necessary.