Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on dermatology practices: Results of a web-based, global survey
Shashank Bhargava, Charles McKeever, George Kroumpouzos
Abstract
The spectrum and magnitude of changes in dermatology practice induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have not been adequately studied. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic on dermatology practice on a large scale, including the clinical activity of participants, frequency and types of procedures used, and teledermatology (TD) use. METHODS: This web-based, global survey included 733 dermatologists. The primary outcomes are percentages of respondents providing in-person consultations, hospital service, and TD and performing procedures. Factors in logistic regression models that may influence the odds ratio (OR) for TD use during pandemic and for future use also were analyzed. RESULTS: < .001 for each). TD use before the pandemic was the most powerful predictor of TD use during the pandemic (OR: 16.47; 95% confidence interval, 7.12-38.06). More than two third of participants (68.6%) expect to use TD in the future. The factor with the largest increase in OR on the expectation of future TD use was >1000 COVID-19 cases in the country (OR: 3.80; 95% confidence interval, 2.33-6.21). CONCLUSION: This survey indicates a profound immediate effect of the pandemic on dermatology practice. The pandemic appears to have substantially contributed to an increased use of TD in the long run.