Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatology Practice Worldwide: Results of a Survey Promoted by the International Dermoscopy Society (IDS)

Claudio Conforti; Aimilios Lallas; Giuseppe Argenziano; Caterina Dianzani; Nicola Di Meo; Roberta Giuffrida; Harald Kittler; Josep Malvehy; Ashfaq A. Marghoob; H. Peter Soyer; Iris Zalaudek

doi:10.5826/dpc.1101a153

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dermatology Practice Worldwide: Results of a Survey Promoted by the International Dermoscopy Society (IDS)

Authors

Claudio Conforti Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy
Aimilios Lallas First Dermatology Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
Giuseppe Argenziano Department of Dermatology, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
Caterina Dianzani Dermatology Section, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit, Campus Biomedico University, Rome, Italy
Nicola Di Meo Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy
Roberta Giuffrida Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Dermatology, University of Messina, Italy
Harald Kittler Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Josep Malvehy Dermatology Department, Melanoma Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain
Ashfaq A. Marghoob Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
H. Peter Soyer The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Dermatology Research Centre & Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD Australia
Iris Zalaudek Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy

Keywords:

COVID-19, teledermatology, survey, SARS-CoV-2, dermatology

Abstract

Introduction: The International Dermoscopy Society (IDS) conducted an online survey to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on the daily practice of dermatologists working with skin cancer patients, to collect data regarding the frequency of skin manifestations noticed by the members, and to obtain information about the use of teledermatology during the pandemic.

Methods: All IDS members were asked to fill in a questionnaire, sent by email. A questionnaire available in English was sent to all IDS members (≈16.0000 members) by email. The questionnaire was anonymous, with a compiling time of less than 5 minutes. The survey was open for 30 days (from April 24, 2020 to May 24, 2020) and it could only be filled out once.

Results: Overall, 678 dermatologists responded to the questionnaire; 334 members stated that there has been a reduction of more than 75% in daily work activity during the pandemic, 265 dermatologists worked fewer days per week, and 118 experienced telemedicine for the first time. Acrodermatitis was the most frequently observed skin manifestation (n = 80) followed by urticarial rash (n = 69), morbilliform rash (n = 53) and purpuric manifestation (n = 40). In regard to the role of teledermatology, 565 dermatologists reported an increased number of teleconsultations, and the number of melanomas diagnosed during the pandemic was practically 0 for 385 (56.78%) of respondents.

Conclusion: This survey highlights that the outbreak had a negative impact on most dermatology services, with a significant reduction in consultation time spent for chronic patients, and an increased risk of missed melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) diagnosis. Moreover, our study confirms earlier findings of a wide range of skin manifestations associated with COVID-19.

Author Biography

Claudio Conforti, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Dermatology Clinic, Maggiore Hospital, University of Trieste, Italy

Dermatology Clinic, Hospital Maggiore, Trieste, Italy

References

Caldaria A, Conforti C, Di Meo N, et al. COVID-19 and SARS: Differences and similarities. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(4):e13395. DOI: 10.1111/dth.13395.

Conforti C, Cannavò SP, Jafferany M, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019: facts and controversies. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(4):e13366. DOI: 10.1111/dth.13366.

Abbott LM, Miller R, Janda M, et al. Practice guidelines for teledermatology in Australia 2020;61(3):e293-e302. Australas J Dermatol. DOI: 10.1111/ajd.13301. PMID: 32363572.

Villani A, Annunziata MC, Abategiovanni L, Fabbrocini G. Teledermatology for acne patients: how to reduce face-to-face visits during COVID-19. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2020;19(8):1828. DOI: 10.1111/jocd.13519. PMID: 32490578.

Piccolo V, Bassi A. Acral findings during the COVID-19 outbreak: chilblain-like lesions should be preferred to acro-ischemic lesions. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(3):e231. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.05.077. PMID: 32446827.

Recalcati S. Cutaneous manifestations in COVID-19: a first perspective. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(5):e212‐e213. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16387

Conforti C, Zalaudek I, Giuffrida R, et al. "COVID-Mask": an atypical livedoid manifestation of COVID-19 observed in a northern Italy hospital. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(4):e13701. DOI: 10.1111/dth.13701

Gisondi P, Piaserico S, Conti A, Naldi L. Dermatologists and SARS-CoV-2: The impact of the pandemic on daily practice. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(6):1196-1201. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16515. PMID: 32320091.

Liu W, Dowling JP, Murray WK, et al. Rate of growth in melanomas: characteristics and associations of rapidly growing melanomas. Arch Dermatol. 2006;142(12):1551‐1558. DOI: 10.1001/archderm.142.12.1551.

Conforti C, Giuffrida R, Di Meo N, Zalaudek I. Management of advanced melanoma in the COVID-19 era. Dermatol Ther. 2020;33(4):e13444. DOI: 10.1111/dth.13444.

Piccolo V, Neri I, Filippeschi C, et al. Chilblain-like lesions during COVID-19 epidemic: a preliminary study on 63 patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2020;34(7):e291-e293. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.16526.

Villani A, Scalvenzi M, Fabbrocini G. Teledermatology: a useful tool to fight COVID-19. J Dermatolog Treat. 2020;31(4):325. DOI: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1750557. PMID: 32238000.

Perkins S, Cohen JM, Nelson CA, Bunick CG. Teledermatology in the era of COVID-19: Experience of an academic department of dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;83(1): e43-e44. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.04.048. PMID: 32305442.

EADV Task Force Recommendations. Accessed January 5, 2021. Available online at: https://eadv.org/covid-19/task-force

Conforti C, Giuffrida R, Vezzoni R, Resende FSS, di Meo N, Zalaudek I. Dermoscopy and the experienced clinicians. Int J Dermatol. 2020;59(1):16-22. DOI: 10.1111/ijd.14512. PMID: 31222814.

Giuffrida R, Conforti C, Di Meo N, Deinlein T, Guida S, Zalaudek I. Use of noninvasive imaging in the management of skin cancer. Curr Opin Oncol. 2020;32(2):98‐105. DOI: 10.1097/CCO.0000000000000611. PMID: 31850969.