Undergraduate Dermatology Medical Education: Results of a Large-Scale Patient Viewing Program

Abstract

Background:

Delivering quality dermatologic instruction to medical students can be difficult; time constraints, limited clinical teachers, and a lack of standardization pose challenges. The literature suggests that many trainees and primary care physicians could benefit from increased clinical dermatology teaching.

Objective:

We sought to deliver and analyze the results of a large-scale patient-viewing undergraduate dermatology education program.

Methods:

A total of 250 third-year medical students participated in a 32-station patient-viewing program. Voluntary pre- and posttest surveys were administered to evaluate knowledge and self-perceived abilities in dermatology. The identical tests were composed of 20 multiple-choice and 5 self-perception questions.

Results:

The response rate for completion of pre- and posttests was 24% (N = 59). Pre- and postknowledge test score means were 69.0% and 93.20%, respectively. Pre- and post–self-perception test score means were 3.95/10 and 7.25/10, respectively. Positive student feedback was received on the patient-viewing educational experience.

Conclusion:

Improvements in knowledge scores and self-assessment scores support the potential integration of structured patient-viewing teaching into undergraduate dermatology medical education curricula.