M Gimeno-Vicente1, A Alfaro-Rubio2, E Gimeno-Carpio3. 1. Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica, Valencia, España. 2. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital de Manises, Manises, Valencia, España. Electronic address: albertoarubio@hotmail.com. 3. Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, Valencia, España.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: WhatsApp is a preferred method of remote consultation for patients. However, the lack a legal framework for this type of patient-physician contact or the inappropriate use of the application can have negative emotional effects on the dermatologist. OBJECTIVES: To determine the basic characteristics of WhatsApp consultations, quantify the time spent on them, and assess the emotional impact on the dermatologist. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study of responses to a 43-item online survey sent to 275 dermatologists who were members of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) working in the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia. RESULTS: A total of 128 dermatologists (46.6%) responded. All reported that they used WhatsApp or Telegram; 93% received consultations by this means and 88.3% responded to the messages. Acute inflammatory conditions, usually requiring medication, accounted for 74.1% of the messages. Nearly a third of the consultations required a visit with the dermatologist.The respondents thought that patients used this means of consultation because they felt at ease with the dermatologist, the app was a convenient tool, and they received quick responses. Thirty-one percent of the dermatologists reported that WhatsApp consultations had a negative emotional impact on them, and 82.3% would prefer not to receive these messages. CONCLUSIONS: WhatsApp consultation should be regulated. Few studies have looked at this type of consultation and many questions remain to be answered.
BACKGROUND: WhatsApp is a preferred method of remote consultation for patients. However, the lack a legal framework for this type of patient-physician contact or the inappropriate use of the application can have negative emotional effects on the dermatologist. OBJECTIVES: To determine the basic characteristics of WhatsApp consultations, quantify the time spent on them, and assess the emotional impact on the dermatologist. Material and methods Retrospective, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study of responses to a 43-item online survey sent to 275 dermatologists who were members of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV) working in the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia. RESULTS: A total of 128 dermatologists (46.6%) responded. All reported that they used WhatsApp or Telegram; 93% received consultations by this means and 88.3% responded to the messages. Acute inflammatory conditions, usually requiring medication, accounted for 74.1% of the messages. Nearly a third of the consultations required a visit with the dermatologist.The respondents thought that patients used this means of consultation because they felt at ease with the dermatologist, the app was a convenient tool, and they received quick responses. Thirty-one percent of the dermatologists reported that WhatsApp consultations had a negative emotional impact on them, and 82.3% would prefer not to receive these messages. CONCLUSIONS: WhatsApp consultation should be regulated. Few studies have looked at this type of consultation and many questions remain to be answered.
Authors: Antal Jobbágy; Norbert Kiss; Fanni Adél Meznerics; Klára Farkas; Dóra Plázár; Szabolcs Bozsányi; Luca Fésűs; Áron Bartha; Endre Szabó; Kende Lőrincz; Miklós Sárdy; Norbert Miklós Wikonkál; Péter Szoldán; András Bánvölgyi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-02-25 Impact factor: 4.614