Faster help for eczema patients

Snow and cold can be a major problem for children with eczema. But they can get help faster using telemedicine. From left: Terje Solvoll and Dr Thomas Schopf.

Through the project “Eczema counselling over the Internet”, parents who have children with eczema can keep in touch electronically with specialists at the hospital.

This means that they get replies to their questions about their child’s eczema much faster than before. In addition, they do not have to travel to the hospital each time the eczema flares up, which may well coincide with the snow and freezing temperatures of winter.

Avoid waiting lists

The project, which started in August 2005, is now well under way, and the feedback from both patients and the public health service is encouraging. Thomas Schopf is a doctor in the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital of North Norway, and he is highly satisfied with the system.

“From experience, it is difficult to get hold of your doctor by telephone. Often the doctor needs to phone back, which may be at a time that is not convenient for the patient,” says Schopf.

These fruitless telephone calls between the patient and the doctor can waste a great deal of time in a hectic working day. Parents despair because their children are suffering, and not being able to contact the doctor adds to the strain.

By using the Internet solution in the eczema project, the parents can send pictures of the eczema and ask their questions exactly when it suits them best, for example when the children have gone to bed. And they do not have to wait for a place on the hospital's waiting list.

Wants to continue with Internet counselling

Up to now, 16 people have used this service altogether, and they have sent a total of some 200 messages to the hospital. A total of 50 families are included in the Internet group, while 48 are being followed up in the normal way through their regular GP and referral to the hospital.

“Those who have used the Internet service regularly have been very satisfied,” says Schopf, who would like to continue providing guidance via the Net.

“To me, it seems clear that other groups of patients with chronic illnesses would be able to benefit from a system like this. This could provide significant productivity improvements in the public health service, because it saves both time and travel expenses,” he concludes.

The project in brief

The participants in the project are parents with children aged between six months and twelve years who have been referred by their regular GP to a specialist at the hospital. Their eczema problems vary, but what they all have in common is that the flare-up results in sores, itching, and great discomfort for the children.

The project started out as the brainchild of Roald Bolle in the Department of Paediatrics at the University Hospital of North Norway (UNN). "Eczema counselling over the Internet" started in January 2005 and will continue until December 2007.

It is a collaborative programme involving the Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Dermatology at UNN, Hammerfest Hospital and the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST). Well Diagnostics has provided the software used in the project.

The research has been funded by the Telemedicine Research Committee (TFU) of the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority.

Contact person at the NST

Terje Solvoll, Project Manager, telephone +47 909 32183

Learn more about eczema

There is more information about eczema in Norwegian and Sami on the Internet pages of eksemskolen.no. The aim of Eksemskolen – the Eczema School – is to provide advice and guidance about eczema treatment without directly involving the specialist health service.