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Published in: Trials 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Study protocol

Improving cooperation between general practitioners and dermatologists via telemedicine: study protocol of the cluster-randomized controlled TeleDerm study

Authors: Roland Koch, Andreas Polanc, Hannah Haumann, Gudula Kirtschig, Peter Martus, Christian Thies, Leonie Sundmacher, Carmen Gaa, Leonard Witkamp, Stefanie Joos, TeleDerm Study Group

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Internationally, teledermatology has proven to be a viable alternative to conventional physical referrals. Travel cost and referral times are reduced while patient safety is preserved. Especially patients from rural areas benefit from this healthcare innovation. Despite these established facts and positive experiences from EU neighboring countries like the Netherlands or the United Kingdom, Germany has not yet implemented store-and-forward teledermatology in routine care.

Methods

The TeleDerm study will implement and evaluate store-and-forward teledermatology in 50 general practitioner (GP) practices as an alternative to conventional referrals. TeleDerm aims to confirm that the possibility of store-and-forward teledermatology in GP practices is going to lead to a 15% (n = 260) reduction in referrals in the intervention arm. The study uses a cluster-randomized controlled trial design. Randomization is planned for the cluster “county”. The main observational unit is the GP practice. Poisson distribution of referrals is assumed. The evaluation of secondary outcomes like acceptance, enablers and barriers uses a mixed-methods design with questionnaires and interviews.

Discussion

Due to the heterogeneity of GP practice organization, patient management software, information technology service providers, GP personal technical affinity and training, we expect several challenges in implementing teledermatology in German GP routine care. Therefore, we plan to recruit 30% more GPs than required by the power calculation. The implementation design and accompanying evaluation is expected to deliver vital insights into the specifics of implementing telemedicine in German routine care.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00012944. Registered prospectively on 31 August 2017.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Improving cooperation between general practitioners and dermatologists via telemedicine: study protocol of the cluster-randomized controlled TeleDerm study
Authors
Roland Koch
Andreas Polanc
Hannah Haumann
Gudula Kirtschig
Peter Martus
Christian Thies
Leonie Sundmacher
Carmen Gaa
Leonard Witkamp
Stefanie Joos
TeleDerm Study Group
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2955-2

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