Integrating dermatologists in primary care: impact on delays, patient and professional experiences.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary healthcare centres are burdened by the management of patients with skin conditions, while general practitioners might lack the expertise to assess skin changes accurately. The traditional care chain for skin findings is a multistage process that can cause delayed diagnosis and treatment, distressing the patient. This study aimed to determine whether adding a dermatologist to the primary care team would streamline the care pathway of patients with skin conditions, while examining levels of satisfaction among patients and healthcare professionals.

Methods

A quasi-experimental multicentre study was conducted in three primary health centres in Finland. A dermatologist was integrated into two of the centres (intervention) but not the third (control). Data on ti

SUBMITTER: Loven M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11577956 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature