A Buendía-Eisman1, S Arias-Santiago2, A Molina-Leyva3, Y Gilaberte4, P Fernández-Crehuet5, H Husein-ElAhmed6, A Viera-Ramírez7, P Fernández-Peñas8, R Taberner9, M Á Descalzo10, I García-Doval11. 1. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España. 2. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, Granada, España; Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España. Electronic address: salvadorarias@ugr.es. 3. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España. 4. Unidad de Dermatología, Hospital San Jorge, Huesca, España. 5. Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, España. 6. Hospital General de Baza, Granada, España. 7. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Santa Catalina, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España. 8. The University of Sydney, Department of Dermatology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia. 9. Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital de Son Llàtzer, Palma de Mallorca, España. 10. Servicio de Dermatología, Complejo Hospitalario de Vigo, Vigo, España. 11. Servicio de Dermatología, Complejo Hospitalario de Vigo, Vigo, España; Unidad de Investigación, Fundación Piel Sana AEDV, Madrid, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Dermatologists perform most of their work in outpatient or private clinics. Data on the diagnoses made by dermatologists in these settings are lacking, however, as outpatient activity, unlike hospital activity, is difficult to code. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnoses made by members of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) at dermatology clinics in Spain. METHODOLOGY: We selected a random sample of AEDV dermatologists drawn from the AEDV list and stratified by geographic area. The selected dermatologists received instructions on how to collect the data required. Each participant recorded the diagnosis reached and other data for patients seen during 2 specified periods: 3 days in January and 3 days in May. The diagnoses were subsequently coded by a dermatologist expert in applying the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision). In view of the complex nature of the sample, data were analyzed with standard error and finite population corrections. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 124 dermatologists. Of these, 65% participated in the first phase of the study and 59% in the second. An estimated 621 562 patients (95% CI, 368 130-874 995) visit the dermatologist every month in Spain. This is the equivalent of 28 (25-31) patients per day per clinic. The most common diagnosis recorded was actinic keratosis, followed by basal cell carcinoma and melanocytic nevus. The vast majority of visits took place at the clinic, but 1% of patients (0.3%-3%) were assessed using teledermatology. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Spain to analyze diagnoses made by AEDV members at outpatient dermatology clinics. Our findings show a high volume of activity and will be useful for guiding health care planning, resource use, and future studies.
INTRODUCTION: Dermatologists perform most of their work in outpatient or private clinics. Data on the diagnoses made by dermatologists in these settings are lacking, however, as outpatient activity, unlike hospital activity, is difficult to code. The aim of this study was to analyze the diagnoses made by members of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) at dermatology clinics in Spain. METHODOLOGY: We selected a random sample of AEDV dermatologists drawn from the AEDV list and stratified by geographic area. The selected dermatologists received instructions on how to collect the data required. Each participant recorded the diagnosis reached and other data for patients seen during 2 specified periods: 3 days in January and 3 days in May. The diagnoses were subsequently coded by a dermatologist expert in applying the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision). In view of the complex nature of the sample, data were analyzed with standard error and finite population corrections. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 124 dermatologists. Of these, 65% participated in the first phase of the study and 59% in the second. An estimated 621 562 patients (95% CI, 368 130-874 995) visit the dermatologist every month in Spain. This is the equivalent of 28 (25-31) patients per day per clinic. The most common diagnosis recorded was actinic keratosis, followed by basal cell carcinoma and melanocytic nevus. The vast majority of visits took place at the clinic, but 1% of patients (0.3%-3%) were assessed using teledermatology. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in Spain to analyze diagnoses made by AEDV members at outpatient dermatology clinics. Our findings show a high volume of activity and will be useful for guiding health care planning, resource use, and future studies.
Authors: Francesc X Marin-Gomez; Josep Vidal-Alaball; Pere Roura Poch; Carles Janes Sariola; Rosa Taberner Ferrer; Jacobo Mendioroz Peña Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2020 Jan-Dec