Clinical and experimental dermatology
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Jan 2021
Comparative StudyReduction in skin cancer diagnoses in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK healthcare system, including skin cancer departments, has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite service capacity and a worldwide increase in incidence, anecdotal reports suggest a decline in skin cancer diagnoses following COVID-19. ⋯ Surprisingly, skin cancer waiting times were also reduced in the COVID period compared to the pre-COVID period (median of 8 and 12 days, respectively; P < 0.001). Collectively, these data highlight a statistically significant reduction in both skin cancer diagnoses and waiting times during the COVID period.
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Clin. Exp. Dermatol. · Oct 2020
A UK-wide survey looking at teaching and trainee confidence in teledermatology: a vital gap in a COVID-19-induced era of rapid digital transformation?
Teledermatology has had an explosive impact on the provision of dermatology services in recent times, and even more so with the unprecedented situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although teledermatology is not presently a feature of the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) curriculum for dermatology training, this is due to change imminently. ⋯ We surveyed dermatology registrars in training across the UK, prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, to ascertain the teledermatology teaching available and trainee confidence in this area. Our survey found that only 15% of respondents felt slightly confident in their ability to deal with teledermatology referrals and almost all (96%) felt more teaching was needed.