Journal article
Beyond the surface: unveiling gaps in medical education through eyes of diverse learners
Archives of dermatological research, v 316(5), 187
22 May 2024
PMID: 38775979
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Inadequate education regarding disease manifestations in diverse skin colors hinders diagnosis and exacerbates health disparities. All levels of medical trainees report low confidence in accurately identifying disease in skin of color (SOC). To help further elucidate these concerns, our research aims to assess medical student confidence in recognizing cutaneous diseases in SOC and their viewpoints regarding SOC education within their institution. An eight-question, open-ended survey was provided to medical students before and after a SOC presentation. The survey assessed participants' confidence in their diagnostic ability and perspectives on educational material. Among the 70 attendees, 58 (82.8%) and 64 (91.4%) completed the pre- and post-seminar surveys, respectively. There was a significant discrepancy in confidence levels when assessing cutaneous manifestations of internal pathology in light (Monk Skin Colors 1-5) versus dark (Monk Skin Colors 6-10) skin (p < 0.009). Notably, 78.7% (37/47) perceived the institutional learning materials as insufficient for SOC. Post-seminar reflections indicated that 87.2% (40/46) of students lacked confidence in diagnosing SOC, with 78.7% (32/46) citing inadequate curriculum coverage as the cause. An additional 8.5% (6/46) identified the predominance of white-centric medical descriptions as a hindrance. Students collectively called for improved educational approaches, including better visual representation of diseases in darker skin. Medical education must continue to strive for increased SOC representation to train competent physicians in treating a diverse patient population and reduce disparities in SOC patients.
Metrics
Details
- Title
- Beyond the surface: unveiling gaps in medical education through eyes of diverse learners
- Creators
- Alexis Arza - Drexel UniversityZane Sejdiu - Drexel UniversityMatthew Viveiros - The Ohio State UniversityAlaina James - University of PittsburghMichael Weingarten - Drexel UniversityCarolyn Giordano - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Archives of dermatological research, v 316(5), 187
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- MD (Doctor of Medicine) Program
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001229455900007
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85194022460
- Other Identifier
- 991021931102304721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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Source: SDGs in the Output
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Dermatology