Journal article
Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium
JAMA dermatology (Chicago, Ill.), Vol.150(8), pp.850-855
08/2014
DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.8723
PMID: 24898482
Abstract
As medical school curricula become progressively integrated, a need exists to optimize education related to the skin cancer examination (SCE) for melanoma, a relevant competency gap that influences secondary prevention efforts.
To identify curricular factors associated with medical students' confidence, intent, and performance regarding the SCE.
Survey-based cross-sectional study from the Integrated Skin Exam Consortium at accredited US medical schools among a volunteer sample of second-year students representing 8 geographically varied public and private institutions. Students were administered a questionnaire to assess characteristics, curricular exposures, and educational and practical experiences related to skin cancer, as well as knowledge of melanoma risk and a detection method.
Primary outcomes were confidence in performing the SCE, intent to perform an integrated skin examination, and actual performance of the SCE.
Physical diagnosis session and clinical encounter were most predictive of confidence in performance of the SCE (odds ratios [ORs], 15.35 and 11.48, respectively). Other curricular factors associated with confidence included instruction time of at least 60 minutes on skin cancer (OR, 6.35), lecture on the SCE (OR, 7.54), knowledge of melanoma risk (OR, 3.71), and at least 1 opportunity to observe the SCE (OR, 2.70). Physical diagnosis session and at least 4 opportunities to observe the SCE were most predictive of intent to perform an integrated skin examination (ORs, 4.84 and 4.72, respectively). Other curricular factors associated with intent included knowledge of melanoma risk (OR, 1.83), clinical encounter (OR, 2.39), and at least 1 opportunity to observe the SCE (OR, 1.95). Clinical encounter, physical diagnosis session, and at least 1 opportunity to observe the SCE were most predictive of performance of the SCE (ORs, 21.67, 15.48, and 9.92, respectively). Other curricular factors associated with performance included instruction time of at least 60 minutes on skin cancer (OR, 2.42) and lecture on the SCE (OR, 5.04).
To augment the practice of the SCE among medical students, course directors may design an integrated curriculum that includes at least 60 minutes of instruction related to melanoma and the SCE, a description of the integrated skin examination as part of the physical diagnosis course, and education on high-risk demographic groups and anatomic sites specific to men and women and on the ABCDEs of melanoma, and at least 1 opportunity to observe the SCE.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium
- Creators
- Amit Garg - Department of Dermatology, Hofstra North Shore Long Island Jewish School of Medicine, Hempstead, New YorkJoyce Wang - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsShalini B Reddy - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsJennifer Powers - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsReza Jacob - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsMichael Powers - Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsKatie Biello - Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MassachusettsRachael Cayce - Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at DallasStephanie Savory - Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at DallasLeah Belazarian - Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, WorcesterErik Domingues - Division of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, WorcesterAdam Korzenko - Department of Dermatology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New YorkLindsay Wilson - Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake CityJane M Grant-Kels - Department of Dermatology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, FarmingtonPaul George - Department of Dermatology, Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode IslandLeslie Robinson-Bostom - Department of Dermatology, Brown Alpert Medical School, Providence, Rhode IslandShannon C Trotter - Department of Dermatology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, ColumbusAlan C Geller - Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- JAMA dermatology (Chicago, Ill.), Vol.150(8), pp.850-855
- DOI
- 10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.8723
- PMID
- 24898482
- NLM abbreviation
- JAMA Dermatol
- ISSN
- 2168-6068
- eISSN
- 2168-6084
- Publisher
- United States
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2014
- Academic Unit
- Dermatology
- Record Identifier
- 9984025303202771
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