Teledermatology Mobile App: Patient Facing (NCT03241589) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Teledermatology Mobile App: Patient Facing
United States466 participantsStarted 2019-05-13
Plain-language summary
This study was designed to measure the impact of two teledermatology apps to provide direct to patient teledermatology follow up care, Patient Viewer and My VA Images, with a trial on access to dermatology care. The overall hypothesis was that sites implementing Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) teledermatology mobile apps would significantly augment the use of teledermatology and improve Veterans' access to skin care relative to control sites. Specifically, the investigators hypothesized that these apps would improve established patients' ability to follow-up with dermatology care remotely, reducing patient travel to dermatology clinics while opening up dermatology clinic space for other patients. Due to a lack of participation by sites during the study which was conducted during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the groups examined are Veterans who live in rural areas compared to those in urban areas.
Previously the study included a parallel trial to evaluate another teledermatology mobile app, VA Telederm. This trial was no longer feasible within this study's funding timeline due to limitations imposed on the mobile app by Office of Information \& Technology that were not under the control of the PI or the operational partner, Office of Connected Care (OCC).
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* The inclusion criterion for the trial with direct to patient facing apps was that a site had greater than or equal to 9% of all Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 dermatology encounters under secondary stop codes 695/696.
* This indicated considerable pre-existing experience with consultative teledermatology and the likely presence of dermatology reader and support personnel needed to implement direct to patient facing apps.
* The investigators identified 31 sites eligible for direct to patient facing apps.
* We followed above criteria but due to low enrollment, an additional criteria was added that patients were included if they received a request to use the patient-facing mobile app.
Exclusion Criteria:
* VA medical centers with no 695/696 stop code activity in FY2018 or with zero full-time equivalent dermatologists were excluded since these sites likely lacked the expertise, support, and infrastructure to feasibly adopt teledermatology during the study period.
* The investigators also excluded sites outside the continental U.S., and sites without a dermatology clinic.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Total Number of Participants That Successfully Completed Remote Follow up
Timeframe: 1 year 4 months
2
Total Number of Participants Who Ever Completed Remote Follow-up Requests