Dermatology medical education: A multicenter survey study of the undergraduate perspective of the dermatology clinical clerkship

Abstract

Background/Aims: Limited data are available regarding the undergraduate dermatology clinical clerkship curriculum in the United States. Our primary aim is to assess medical students’ perspectives of the dermatology clinical clerkship. Methods: A multicenter survey study was conducted, which included four California dermatology academic programs. A 17-item questionnaire was designed to investigate medical student perception with regard to the overall educational value of the various teaching aspects of the dermatology clinical clerkship. Results: A total of 152 medical student surveys were completed. Over half of the medical students felt proficient in diagnosing the most common dermatologic conditions. Eighty-seven percent of medical students were very satisfied with the dermatology clerkship. Ninety-one percent of students felt the length of the clerkship was appropriate. Conclusions: The vast majority of medical students reported a high level of proficiency in the treatment and diagnosis of common skin disorders. In contrast, our findings suggest that medical students may not be gaining sufficient hands-on experience in conducting certain dermatologic procedures following the dermatology clerkship. Overall, medical student perception of the dermatology clinical clerkship was mostly positive.