Smart E-Skin Cancer Care in Europe During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus

Josep Malvehy; Brigitte Dreno; Enric Barba; Thomas  Dirschka; Emilio Fumero; Christian  Greis; Girish  Gupta; Francesco  Lacarrubba; Giuseppe  Micali; David Moreno; Giovanni  Pellacani; Laura  Sampietro-Colom; Alexander  Stratigos; Susanna Puig

doi:10.5826/dpc.1303a181

Smart E-Skin Cancer Care in Europe During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multidisciplinary Expert Consensus

Authors

Josep Malvehy Dermatology Department. Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain. Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
Brigitte Dreno Department of Dermatolo-Cancerology, CHU Nantes, CIC 1413, CRCINA, University Nantes, Nantes, France
Enric Barba Spanish Melanoma Association, Barcelona, Spain
Thomas Dirschka Centroderm Clinic, Wuppertal, and Faculty of Health, University Witten-Herdecke, Witten, Germany
Emilio Fumero Almirall R&D, St. Feliu de Llobregat, Spain
Christian Greis Department Dermatology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Girish Gupta University Department of Dermatology, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Lauriston Building, Edinburgh, UK
Francesco Lacarrubba Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Giuseppe Micali Dermatology Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
David Moreno Dermatology Department, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
Giovanni Pellacani Dermatology Department, University Hospital Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain
Laura Sampietro-Colom Assessment of Innovations and New Technologies Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Alexander Stratigos Department of Dermatology-Venereology, Andreas Sygros Hospital, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Susanna Puig Dermatology Department. Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain. Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain

Keywords:

artificial intelligence, COVID-19, e-Health, melanoma, skin cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Melanoma is the deadliest of all the skin cancers and its incidence is increasing every year in Europe. Patients with melanoma often present late to the specialist and treatment is delayed for many reasons (delay in patient consultation, misdiagnosis by general practitioners, and/or limited access to dermatologists). Beyond this, there are significant inequalities in skin cancer between population groups within the same country and between countries across Europe. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic only aggravated these health deficiencies.

Objectives: The aim was to create an expert opinion about the challenges in skin cancer management in Europe during the post COVID-19 acute pandemic and to identify and discuss the implementation of new technologies (including e-health and artificial intelligence defined as "Smart Skin Cancer Care") to overcome them.

Methods: For this purpose, an ad-hoc questionnaire with items addressing topics of skin cancer care was developed, answered independently and discussed by a multidisciplinary European panel of experts comprising dermatologists, dermato-oncologists, patient advocacy representatives, digital health technology experts, and health technology assessment experts.

Results: After all panel of experts discussions, a multidisciplinary expert opinion was created.

Conclusions: As a conclusion, the access to dermatologists is difficult and will be aggravated in the near future. This fact, together with important differences in Skin Cancer Care in Europe, suggest the need of a new approach to skin health, prevention and disease management paradigm (focused on integration of new technologies) to minimize the impact of skin cancer and to ensure optimal quality and equity.

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