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Mobile Tele-Dermatology Use Among University Students: A Pilot Study at Saint Joseph University (USJ)

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Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (BIOSTEC 2022)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1814))

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Abstract

Due to its quick diagnosis and treatment plan, Tele-dermatology (TDM) had already gained the trust of patients and doctors by the turn of the twenty-first century. We therefore extend our pilot study into a descriptive inquiry to gain a good insight into the propensity of University Students in Lebanon to use Mobile Tele Dermatology (TDM). This paper is a continuation of the statistical analysis performed to determine the factors influencing the use of TDM by university students. We evaluate the connection between medical factors and TDM adoption, the influence of subjective norms and perceived risks, also in the contexts of social determinants, such as age and marital status. Result demonstrability showed as a strong predictor of adoption in both the statistical analysis and the descriptive inquiry in this paper. Both academics and practitioners should benefit from the extra observations and results of this pilot survey. A qualitative study is advised to build on this pilot and learn more about the factors influencing usage intention. This study can be expanded to a broader population with a range of ages and professions, offering a helpful comparison of the markets that can be served and the target audience that could offer information for both manufacturers and practitioners.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.who.int/health-topics/social-determinants-ofhealth#tab=tab_1.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Higher Institute of Public Health, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Nabil Georges Badr, Nanor Aroutine & Joumana Yeretzian

Authors
  1. Nabil Georges Badr
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  2. Nanor Aroutine
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  3. Joumana Yeretzian
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nabil Georges Badr .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica, Portugal

    Ana Cecília A. Roque

  2. Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Denis Gracanin

  3. University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Ronny Lorenz

  4. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Athanasios Tsanas

  5. Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Nathalie Bier

  6. Instituto de Telecomunicações and Instituto Superior Técnico - Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal

    Ana Fred

  7. Nova School of Science and Technology and University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal

    Hugo Gamboa

Appendix

Appendix

1.1 Survey Questions and Possible Answers

  1. 1-

    Gender: Male, Female

  2. 2-

    Age: <20 years; 21 – 25; 26 – 30; 31 – 35; 36 – 40; 41 – 45; Above 46

  3. 3-

    Education specialty: Business Management; Engineering & Sciences; Humanities; Medical & Health; Political Science & Law; Other

  4. 4-

    Work: Part time; Full time; Other or Null

  5. 5-

    Marital status: Single; Married

  6. 6-

    Skin colour: Fair; Medium; Dark

  7. 7-

    Eye colour: Brown; Hazel; Blue; Green; Other or Null

  8. 8-

    Family history of skin cancer: No; Yes

  9. 9-

    Previous skin cancer removed: No; Yes

  10. 10-

    Presence of moles larger than 2 mm: None; Less than 10; 11+

  11. 11-

    Mobile Teledermatology will help me examine my skin more rapidly: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  12. 12-

    Mobile Teledermatology will improve my self-skin examination: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  13. 13-

    Mobile Teledermatology is useful to diagnose moles on my skin for suspicious lesions: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  14. 14-

    Mobile Teledermatology will help save time: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  15. 15-

    Mobile Teledermatology will help detect skin cancer in early stages: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  16. 16-

    Mobile Teledermatology will be easy to use: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  17. 17-

    A suspicious mole or lesion diagnosis through Mobile Teledermatology will be understandable: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  18. 18-

    Mobile Teledermatology users will easily acquire the skills to preform it: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  19. 19-

    Mobile Teledermatology will encourage me to examine my skin thoroughly: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  20. 20-

    The use of Mobile Teledermatology will change my self-skin examination practice: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  21. 21-

    The use of Mobile Teledermatology can fit in my skin examination habit: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  22. 22-

    The use of Mobile Teledermatology may interfere with my work: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  23. 23-

    I will use Mobile Teledermatology when its offered to me: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree 24- I will use Mobile Teledermatology in my routine self-skin examination in the future: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  24. 24-

    I will use Mobile Teledermatology if it will save me time: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  25. 25-

    I will use Mobile Teledermatology if it will save me money: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  26. 26-

    Mobile Teledermatology will be useful to diagnose skin cancer in general: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  27. 27-

    Mobile Teledermatology will be for my best interest: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  28. 28-

    Health professionals (nurses, physicians…) will welcome the fact that I use Mobile Tele-dermatology: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree y

  29. 29-

    My friends and my family will welcome the fact that I use Mobile Teledermatology: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  30. 30-

    I will completely trust the diagnosis of the dermatologist based on a photo I’ve sent using Mobile Teledermatology: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  31. 31-

    I will rely on the Teledermatology process to supply accurate information about a mole or a spot: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  32. 32-

    I will use Mobile Teledermatology if I receive adequate training: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  33. 33-

    I will use Mobile Teledermatology if I receive technical assistance when I need it: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

  34. 34-

    There are health professionals available who will help me with Mobile Teledermatology: Strongly agree; Agree; Unsure; Disagree; Strongly disagree

1.2 Latent Variables for Our Statistical Model from Aroutine et al. (2022)

  • SI: Subjective norms (Q: 29 & 30);

  • SDH: Social determinants (Q: 3 thru 5);

  • MED: Medical factors (Q: 1, 2, 6 thru 10);

  • RES DEM: Result demonstrability (Q: 15, 17, 31, 32);

  • PR: Perceived risk (Q: 18, 20 thru 22, 25, 26, 33 thru 35);

  • PU: Perceived usefulness (Q: 11 thru 14, 19, 27 & 28);

  • PEOU: Perceived ease of use (Q: 16); UI (UI1 & UI2): Intention to Use (Q: 23 & 24).

1.3 Hypotheses - Summarized from Aroutine et al. (2022)

  • H1: Social Determinants such as age, marital status and education specialty affect perceived usefulness of mobile TDM by students

  • H2: Medical factors such as family cancer history, age and gender affect perceived usefulness of mobile TDM by students

  • H3: Results Demonstrability (or effectiveness) indicated by the user’s trust in technology performance and the perceived ability of mobile TDM to offer early detection, with accurate information and an understandable outcome affects perceived usefulness of mobile TDM by students

  • H4: Perceived risk, indicated by the resistance to change, efficiency and technology anxiety affects intention to use of mobile TDM by students

  • H5: Perceived risk, indicated by resistance to change, efficiency and technology anxiety moderates the relationship between perceived ease of use and intention to use of mobile TDM by students

  • H6: Perceived risk, indicated by resistance to change, efficiency and technology anxiety moderates the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention to use of mobile TDM by students

  • H7: Subjective norms, indicated by social influence, affects the intention to use of mobile TDM by students.

  • H8: Perceived usefulness, indicated by the perception that the technology will serve the best interest of the user, in a rapid, self-examination, affects intention to use of mobile TDM by students.

  • H9: Perceived ease of use affects intention to use of mobile TDM by students

  • H10: Perceived ease of use affects perceived usefulness of Mobile TDM by students.

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Badr, N.G., Aroutine, N., Yeretzian, J. (2023). Mobile Tele-Dermatology Use Among University Students: A Pilot Study at Saint Joseph University (USJ). In: Roque, A.C.A., et al. Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies. BIOSTEC 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1814. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38854-5_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38854-5_11

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