Undergraduate Dermatology Education in Canada: A Survey

Abstract

Background:

Two reviews done in the 1980's showed that many Canadian medical schools scheduled relatively little time for dermatological teaching. Many students did not have a real clinical exposure to dermatology.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to obtain new data to reevaluate the undergraduate training in dermatology in Canada.

Methods:

A survey was sent to the coordinators of undergraduate dermatology of all 16 Canadian medical schools.

Results:

The survey of medical schools demonstrates the current status of dermatology undergraduate teaching across Canada. Although many improvements have been made in the way dermatology is taught to medical students, many of the problems noticed in the 1980s remain unresolved.

Conclusion:

Because dermatological care in Canada is often rendered by nondermatologists, the dermatologists should emphasize the importance of undergraduate training in their specialty.