The role of digital pathology in enabling remote operations during the CVID-19 pandemic and beyond a pathologist's perspective for the future opportunity : Role of Digital Pathology in COVID-19

Saima  Bashir; Sarah  Arif; Rabeea  Zia; Ghulam Mustafa; Khadija Raziq; Sudhair Abbas  Bangash; Anila  Farid; Azhar  Aslam

doi:10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.396

Authors

Saima Bashir Department of Pathology, Gomal Medical College, Medical Teaching Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Sarah Arif Department of Pathology, Gomal Medical College, Medical Teaching Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Rabeea Zia Pakistan Kidney and Liver Hospital (PKLI), Lahore, Pakistan
Ghulam Mustafa Department of Information Technology, University of the Punjab, Gujranwala Campus
Khadija Raziq Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar
Sudhair Abbas Bangash Faculty of Life Science, Department of Pharmacy, Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar
Anila Farid Department of Biochemistry, University of Hazara, Hazara
Azhar Aslam Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pbmj.v5i4.396

Keywords:

Digital pathology; Remote operations; covid-19, Pathologist

Abstract

Significant progress has been made in the area of digital pathology during the past 20 years. With rapid scanners, whole slide imaging (WSI) can now create high-resolution digital duplicates of glass slides. Objective: To assess fundamental understanding of digital pathology among Pakistani pathologists practicing in labs throughout the country. Methods: The current study was cross sectional study carried out at the Department of Pathology, Gomal Medical College, Medical Teaching Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan for a period of six months. This study was proforma based and pathologists across the country were included in the study. All the data from the questionnaire was entered and analyzed by employing IBM SPSS version 24. Results: A total of 210 pathologists were enrolled, amongst which 84 (40%) were males and 126 (60%) were females. Pathologist familiar with the Digital Pathology idea were 147 (70%) while 63 (30%) pathologists were not familiar with the digital pathology. Amongst 210 pathologists, 157 (74.77%) pathologists have idea about digital microscope. Pathologist having knowledge of pathology slide scanner idea were 147 (70%) while 63 (30%) pathologists were observed as having no knowledge of pathology slide scanner. Pathologist familiar with the idea of artificial intelligence were 96 (45.71%) while 114 (54.29%) participants were not familiar with the artificial intelligence. Conclusion: In spite of the fact that digital pathology is very promising and has resulted in a shift in the thought pattern of pathologists practicing in underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan, there are still challenges to overcome such as expense, technical assistance, regulation and validation needs.

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