Impact of COVID-19 on the use of tele-expertise services in Mali, from 2018 to 2022

Abstract

Information and communication technologies have played a key role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the use of tele-expertise services in Mali from 2018 to 2021. This is a cross-sectional study based on both retrospective and prospective data collected between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2021, from Mali’s national tele-expertise database. Data were gathered from 576 out of 1,200 beneficiaries and 28 healthcare professionals working in rural areas. Five intervention sites were randomly selected from two groups of locations. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify associated factors, with a significance level set at 5%. Overall, requests for expert advice increased by 70% compared to the pre-pandemic years of 2018 and 2019. The most frequently observed skin conditions were eczema 102 (17.7%) and pyoderma 93 (16.1%). The primary reasons cited for using tele-expertise were reduced travel time and lower costs. Our findings indicate that the most common dermatological conditions during the COVID-19 period were atopic dermatitis and pyoderma. A general increase in tele-expertise consultations was observed during the pandemic. Factors associated with the use of tele-expertise during this period included female gender, nursing profession, and residence in the districts of Dioila, Nioro, and Touloupe. Further research in telemedicine is needed to better understand the long-term impact of COVID-19 on teledermatology