Needs Assessment of Pathologists Using Telepathology Systems

BACKGROUND: This project sought to identify the most common telepathology consultation needs of pathologists based on the anatomic section of tissue to improve quality of consultations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire with four questions to assess pathologists’ consultation needs. The questionnaire was distributed to the 16 pathologists recruited for this study. All 16 of the pathologists work in Kerman province, the largest province of Iran, which is situated 1,000 kilometers from Tehran, Iran’s capital city. RESULTS: On average, the pathologists expressed a need to consult with their colleagues in 7.5% of cases. They believed that articular and bone tissue, soft tissue and the lymphoid system (respectively in descending order) to be the three anatomical parts that require the greatest amount of consultation. As such, consultant pathologists should ensure they have particular expertise in articular and bone tissue, soft tissue and the lymphoid system. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that pathologists most need advice from consultants when working with samples of articular and bone tissue, soft tissue and the lymphoid system. These results can be used to ensure successful implementation of telepathology systems, which are helpful for consultation from rural and remote areas.