DERM: Education a four-step digital tool dermatology kit for nondermatologists

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dermatology is often an overlooked and underemphasized area of training in postgraduate primary care medical education, with an abundance of dermatological educational resources available, but no clear guidelines on how to best take advantage of them. The objective of this study was to develop a dermatology digital tool kit designed to describe, evaluate, recognize, and manage (DERM) common dermatological conditions in primary care residency education and to evaluate potential improvement in clinical confidence. METHODS: A total of 14 family medicine (FM) and 33 internal medicine (IM) residents were given the DERM tool kit to complete over 7 weeks. Effects on residents’ self-reported comfort with dermatology and resources used were measured by voluntary anonymous surveys distributed before and after DERM completion. RESULTS: A response rate of 100% (14/14) for FM residents and 52% (17/33) for IM residents was achieved. The majority of residents (61%) recalled minimal dermatology education—less than 2 weeks—in medical school and 71% agreed that there is not enough dermatology in their residency curriculum. A statistically significant increase in resident comfort with describing (P=0.002), recognizing and diagnosing (P<0.001), and managing (P=0.001) dermatologic conditions was observed postcompletion. Residents reported they would recommend this tool to other primary care residents. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing the DERM digital tool kit is feasible with primary care residents and appears to improve comfort with describing, recognizing and diagnosing, and managing dermatologic conditions.