Patients' attitudes toward resident participation in dermatology outpatient clinics

Abstract

The attitudes of patients toward resident participation in a university-based dermatology outpatient clinic were evaluated. Of 206 patients asked to participate, 191 patients completed the self-administered questionnaire (92.7%). The overwhelming majority of patients (99.5%) were satisfied (81.8% "very satisfied" and 17.7% "satisfied") with the resident's participation in their care. Many more patients expressed a willingness to allow residents to take histories (93.6%), perform physical examinations (87.2%), and counsel on preventive measures (74.5%), than to allow surgical excisions of skin cancers (19.7%), perform skin biopsies (43.6%), or prescribe medications (44.7%). Of respondents to the questionnaire, 83.2% self-reported an understanding of the difference between "resident" and "attending" physicians. However, only 31.3% (95% confidence interval 24.5-38.1) were able to broadly categorize the amount of training completed by dermatology residents. Dermatology resident participation in outpatient clinics is essential to quality dermatologic education. Consistent with the results of prior studies in other medical disciplines, our study demonstrated an overwhelming patient satisfaction with the participation of dermatology residents in their care.