On November 25, 2024, WHO and Kenya’s Ministry of Health reviewed initial results from a study on the WHO Skin NTDs App, which uses AI algorithms for diagnosing skin diseases. Conducted across five counties, healthcare workers reported 80% accuracy in diagnoses. Positive user feedback indicated increased confidence among health professionals. Future studies are planned in other countries to further evaluate the app’s effectiveness.
On November 25, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened with the Ministry of Health of Kenya to review initial findings from the inaugural real-world evaluation of the WHO Skin NTDs App. This innovative application leverages two artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, created in collaboration with several academic and health institutions, including TDR and the University of Bristol. The study marks a pioneering effort in the concurrent assessment of these two algorithms designed to address skin-related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and common dermatological conditions.
Conducted across five Kenyan counties, the study involved 40 primary healthcare workers from the Ministry of Health, who collected 605 images of skin lesions from a corresponding number of patients from June to October 2024.
Dr. Joyce Onsongo, a WHO officer specializing in neglected tropical diseases in Kenya, emphasized the significance of skin diseases as a public health concern, responsible for 10–30% of outpatient consultations in the country. She noted the critical challenge posed by the limited number of dermatologists available to address these issues, highlighting the potential of the WHO Skin NTDs App powered by AI to enhance disease management effectiveness.
Preliminary findings indicated that both AI algorithms achieved an average sensitivity of approximately 80% compared to diagnoses made by three board-certified dermatologists. Dr. José Antonio Ruiz Postigo of the WHO Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme commended the swift execution of the study, stating it represented a considerable achievement given the logistical challenges involved in remote healthcare settings.
Furthermore, the study also collected feedback from healthcare workers on their experiences with the App. Results indicated a positive reception, with a mean score of 3.82 out of 5 on the User Version of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (uMARS) and an impressive 8 out of 10 in focus group discussions. Professor Carme Carrion, the Principal Investigator from the Open University of Catalonia, reported notable improvements in health professionals’ confidence and credibility in assessing skin conditions.
Dr. Ruth Nyangacha, a research scientist at KEMRI, remarked on the App’s role in fostering a collaborative diagnostic environment, stating it helped mitigate the stigma faced by patients with skin NTDs. Looking forward, the WHO plans to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the findings, with intentions to extend similar studies to Brazil, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and India to assess the AI algorithms’ performance in diverse epidemiological settings.
The issue of skin diseases represents a substantial public health challenge, particularly in countries like Kenya, where dermatological expertise is in short supply. The integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare has potential to revolutionize diagnostic processes, especially for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that are often overlooked. The collaboration involving WHO and multiple research institutions aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an AI-driven mobile application designed to support primary health workers in the recognition and management of skin diseases, which could potentially transform patient care in resource-limited settings.
The WHO Skin NTDs App, assessed in a Kenyan study, demonstrates promising results for enhancing the diagnosis and management of skin diseases. With a strong performance indicated by an average sensitivity of 80% and positive feedback from healthcare professionals, the initiative stands to improve healthcare delivery in areas struggling with dermatological conditions. The planned expansion to other countries illustrates the WHO’s commitment to advancing health solutions through innovative technology and collaborative research.
Original Source: www.who.int
