Paediatric Dermatology Teleconsultations: A Survey of Health Care Professionals in the United Kingdom

Abstract The Covid-19 pandemic catapulted dermatology services into a digital era, with the rapid introduction of teleconsultations. The National Health Service (NHS) operational planning guidance recommends ≥25% of consultations are delivered remotely.1 There is a lack of data regarding acceptability and effectiveness of paediatric dermatology teleconsultations. We surveyed UK health care professionals (HCP) to explore their experiences of teleconsultations in paediatric dermatology, with a focus on follow-up consultations for paediatric eczema (PE), to inform a future clinical trial. There were 119 responses. Pre-pandemic, 37% provided some form of teleconsultation service, rising to 93% post-pandemic. Forty-one percent (n=49) now carry out >25% of consultations remotely. Fifty-five percent felt teleconsultations were less effective than face-to-face for PE follow-up. Eighty HCP offered teleconsultations for PE. The most effective format for PE follow-up was felt to be telephone with photographs (n=52, 65%). Our results demonstrate varying opinion on the effectiveness and optimal format of paediatric teleconsultations, supporting the need for further research.