INTRODUCTION
Telehealth became widely implemented in pediatric dermatology practices as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, patient preferences for using telehealth for specific skin conditions remain in question. Here, we sought to evaluate the patterns of telehealth use among patients and their families at a pediatric dermatology clinic by comparing the skin conditions seen between telehealth and in-person visits.
This single-center study aimed to compare the frequency of pediatric skin conditions seen via synchronous telehealth video visits versus in-person office visits during 8 months of the pandemic: June 1, 2020, to January 22, 2021. Data was obtained from an institutional database, and patients less than age 18 years who completed a telehealth or in-person visit with a pediatric dermatologist during the study period were included. Pediatric skin conditions were compared between the visit types using two-sided Fisher's exact tests with alpha set to 0.05 with Stata 16/MP 16.1; conditions were also compared for subgroups by age. Telehealth and in-person visits employed analogous protocols, except patients were asked to submit pictures of their skin condition prior to telehealth visits. During the study period, patients could freely schedule telehealth appointments without approval or special requirements.
Across 205 telehealth and 1,283 office visits, the ten most common conditions seen were acne vulgaris (24%), atopic dermatitis (17%), melanocytic nevi (11%), viral warts (10%), unspecified dermatitis (10%), seborrheic dermatitis (5%), hemangiomas (5%), molluscum contagiosum (4%), scars (4%), and postinflammatory pigmentation (3%). Table 1 shows the results of univariate comparisons of conditions seen via telehealth versus in-person visits. Acne vulgaris (odds ratio [OR]: 1.58), hemangiomas (OR: 5.02), and contact dermatitis (OR: 3.84) were significantly more likely to be seen via telehealth, while atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.57), viral warts (OR: 0.28), and alopecia areata (OR: 0.16) were significantly less likely to be seen via telehealth.
Table 2 shows the results of the subgroup analyses by age. Infants (ages 0-2 years) were less likely to be seen for atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.24) and more likely to be seen for hemangioma (OR: 5.19) at a telehealth visit (n=239) compared to in-person visit (n=59). No differences were found for children ages 3-12 years. Among adolescents (ages 13-17 years), acne vulgaris (OR: 1.85) was more likely to be seen via telehealth (n=88) versus in-person (n=502) while viral warts (OR: 0.20) and scars (OR: 0.02) were less likely.
This single-center study aimed to compare the frequency of pediatric skin conditions seen via synchronous telehealth video visits versus in-person office visits during 8 months of the pandemic: June 1, 2020, to January 22, 2021. Data was obtained from an institutional database, and patients less than age 18 years who completed a telehealth or in-person visit with a pediatric dermatologist during the study period were included. Pediatric skin conditions were compared between the visit types using two-sided Fisher's exact tests with alpha set to 0.05 with Stata 16/MP 16.1; conditions were also compared for subgroups by age. Telehealth and in-person visits employed analogous protocols, except patients were asked to submit pictures of their skin condition prior to telehealth visits. During the study period, patients could freely schedule telehealth appointments without approval or special requirements.
Across 205 telehealth and 1,283 office visits, the ten most common conditions seen were acne vulgaris (24%), atopic dermatitis (17%), melanocytic nevi (11%), viral warts (10%), unspecified dermatitis (10%), seborrheic dermatitis (5%), hemangiomas (5%), molluscum contagiosum (4%), scars (4%), and postinflammatory pigmentation (3%). Table 1 shows the results of univariate comparisons of conditions seen via telehealth versus in-person visits. Acne vulgaris (odds ratio [OR]: 1.58), hemangiomas (OR: 5.02), and contact dermatitis (OR: 3.84) were significantly more likely to be seen via telehealth, while atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.57), viral warts (OR: 0.28), and alopecia areata (OR: 0.16) were significantly less likely to be seen via telehealth.
Table 2 shows the results of the subgroup analyses by age. Infants (ages 0-2 years) were less likely to be seen for atopic dermatitis (OR: 0.24) and more likely to be seen for hemangioma (OR: 5.19) at a telehealth visit (n=239) compared to in-person visit (n=59). No differences were found for children ages 3-12 years. Among adolescents (ages 13-17 years), acne vulgaris (OR: 1.85) was more likely to be seen via telehealth (n=88) versus in-person (n=502) while viral warts (OR: 0.20) and scars (OR: 0.02) were less likely.
