Improving recognition among undergraduate and postgraduate trainees of dermatological conditions in skin of colour: a cross-sectional quality improvement project.

Abstract

It is well-recognized that skin of colour (SOC) is under-represented in undergraduate and postgraduate curricula in the UK. The primary objective of this Quality Improvement Project (QIP) was to improve the confidence of medical students and junior doctors in recognizing dermatological conditions in SOC. We developed two educational interventions to introduce participants to the clinical presentation of dermatological conditions in SOC. A five-point Likert scale measured participants' confidence, and an eight-question assessment quantified differences in knowledge. Results showed that 39% of students and 67% of junior doctors had not received SOC teaching during their undergraduate training. Following the lecture, mean Likert scores for confidence in recognizing conditions in SOC increased in the medical student and junior doctor cohorts by 2.5 and 1.82, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). The mean assessment scores increased by 3.68 and 3.87, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). These results confirm the under-representation of SOC in medical education and highlight the need to diversify the Dermatology undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.