DE05 Designing and implementing dermatology procedural video education for trainees

Abstract

Abstract Surgical exposure can be varied during specialty training in dermatology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this was compounded by the reduction in face-to-face teaching, adding a further barrier for trainees trying to access practical skills training. We sought to enable uniform, accessible and inclusive teaching of common biopsy techniques to improve the confidence and proficiency of dermatology trainees in performing these procedures, through a virtual self-directed format. We produced a series of concise educational videos detailing the biopsy consent process and instructional videos on techniques for punch biopsy, shave biopsy, incisional biopsy and simple excisions. Each video was ∼10 min in length with demonstration of the technique on porcine skin in real-time and step-by-step narration. The videos were developed according to up-to-date recommendations of best practice, including those from the British Society of Dermatological Surgery. We used multidisciplinary expert input from Mohs surgeons, specialist nurse practitioners, dermatopathologists, clinicians with expertise in medical education, learning innovation advisors and media experts. We highlighted important learning points for trainees during the videos such as common biopsy indications and complications, practical pitfalls and techniques to enhance biopsy efficiency, diagnostic yield and cosmetic outcome. Our educational videos were launched initially at a large teaching hospital in the UK and watched by 25 dermatology trainees, with plans for upcoming open-access via our education website. The effectiveness of our learning material was evaluated through a preintervention survey of trainees to gauge prior exposure to dermatology surgery, followed by a postintervention survey. We found evidence of a lack of exposure to procedural dermatology among trainees in the preintervention survey, with improvements in trainee confidence reported following the educational videos. Delivering procedural videos through an accessible online resource is beneficial for dermatology trainees and allied healthcare professionals performing biopsies and diversifies the modality of procedural dermatology education. An online video format provides self-directed education that has flexibility and enables repeated access to reinforce learning, which complements and enhances in-person practical teaching.