Comprehensive Summary
McRae, et al. examine patient perspectives on artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine in dermatology to help guide implementation of these new technologies as they are slowly brought into clinical practice. The data was collected through 48 papers across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase between August 2024 and October 2024. All papers discussed patient perspectives on AI and telemedicine in dermatology, without directly comparing patients’ views. The findings showed that patients view AI as a way to receive quicker diagnoses and triage, while telemedicine can reduce travel time and appointment availability. However, many patients are hesitant about relying solely on an AI diagnosis without a dermatologist’s perspective, and telemedicine's inability to give a full physical exam. More specifically, many patients believe that for these technologies to work well, a dermatologist needs to oversee the procedure, clear communication, easy-to-read resources, and strong privacy protections.
Outcomes and Implications
While AI and telemedicine are becoming more common in dermatology, there is still a lack of patient perspective in their use. Understanding patient perspectives is important to make sure these tools are integrated in a responsible and patient-centered way. This work emphasizes the importance of equity in the implementation of these technologies. In AI models, it is easy for bias and data literacy barriers to affect those who benefit the most from these tools. Therefore, as the findings show, AI and telemedicine should support, not replace, in-person care, which suggests that a successful implementation of these technologies will maintain meaningful doctor-patient relationships.