D G Federman1, J Concato, R S Kirsner. 1. Department of Medicine, West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Conn., USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cost-containment efforts in the United States have led to a greater emphasis on health care delivery by primary care physicians as opposed to specialists, who are assumed to be more costly. With this approach, it is incumbent on the primary care physician to be able to accurately diagnose and treat common maladies, including skin disease. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether differences in performance were detectable between groups of physicians when presented with color slides or high-quality transparencies. DESIGN: We performed a critical review of published studies. RESULTS: Overall, dermatologists (93% correct) performed better than nondermatologists (52% correct) (P < .001). No difference was appreciable between dermatology residents (91% correct) and practicing dermatologists (96% correct) or between internal medicine residents (45% correct) and family practice residents (48% correct). In addition, family medicine attending physicians (70% correct) performed better than internal medicine attending physicians (52% correct) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians should receive more training in the diagnosis of skin disease.
BACKGROUND: Cost-containment efforts in the United States have led to a greater emphasis on health care delivery by primary care physicians as opposed to specialists, who are assumed to be more costly. With this approach, it is incumbent on the primary care physician to be able to accurately diagnose and treat common maladies, including skin disease. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether differences in performance were detectable between groups of physicians when presented with color slides or high-quality transparencies. DESIGN: We performed a critical review of published studies. RESULTS: Overall, dermatologists (93% correct) performed better than nondermatologists (52% correct) (P < .001). No difference was appreciable between dermatology residents (91% correct) and practicing dermatologists (96% correct) or between internal medicine residents (45% correct) and family practice residents (48% correct). In addition, family medicine attending physicians (70% correct) performed better than internal medicine attending physicians (52% correct) (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians should receive more training in the diagnosis of skin disease.
Authors: Muhammad Shahzad; Abdullateef A Alzolibani; Ahmad A Al Robaee; Hani A Al Shobaili; Mohammad H Alsharkasy; Abdullah A Al Marshood; Abdulhakeem Al Mutiari; Abdulrahman Aldukhayel Journal: Int J Health Sci (Qassim) Date: 2013-06
Authors: Emmanouil K Symvoulakis; Konstantin Krasagakis; Ioannis D Komninos; Ioannis Kastrinakis; Ioannis Lyronis; Anastasios Philalithis; Androniki D Tosca Journal: BMC Fam Pract Date: 2006-01-31 Impact factor: 2.497