Georgina Whiting1,2, Parker Magin3,4, Simon Morgan5, Amanda Tapley3, Kim Henderson3, Chris Oldmeadow6, Jean Ball6, Mieke van Driel7, Neil Spike8, Lawrie McArthur1, John Scott5, Nigel Stocks1. 1. School of Population Health and Clinical Practice, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 2. Adelaide to Outback General Practice Training, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 3. GP Synergy, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia. 4. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 5. General Practice Training Valley to Coast, Mayfield, New South Wales, Australia. 6. Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW Australia. 7. School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. 8. Eastern Victoria GP Training, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Skin conditions are commonly encountered in general practice but dermatology is underrepresented in undergraduate medical courses. Australian and international studies have shown that the dermatological diagnostic ability of general practitioners (GPs) is suboptimal, contributing to increased dermatology outpatient referrals. Dermatological experience in GP vocational training is thus of particular importance. We aimed to document the prevalence of skin disease presentations and the range of skin diseases encountered by GP trainees. We also sought to establish associations of GP trainee's skin disease experience, including their personal characteristics, consultation factors, and the actions arising from the consultation. METHODS: This study took place in the Registrars Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) study. ReCEnT is an ongoing, prospective, multi-site cohort study of Australian GP trainees' consultations. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was performed on trainees' consultation data. RESULTS: In total, 645 individual trainees contributed data from 84 615 consultations. Altogether, 11% of all problems managed were skin problems. Infections, dermatitis, injury and wounds were the most common presentations. Associations of consultations for skin problems (compared with all other problems) included seeking in-consultation advice, planning patient follow up and generating learning goals. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest GP trainees find skin problems challenging and may indicate a need for more and better targeted undergraduate and GP trainee education.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Skin conditions are commonly encountered in general practice but dermatology is underrepresented in undergraduate medical courses. Australian and international studies have shown that the dermatological diagnostic ability of general practitioners (GPs) is suboptimal, contributing to increased dermatology outpatient referrals. Dermatological experience in GP vocational training is thus of particular importance. We aimed to document the prevalence of skin disease presentations and the range of skin diseases encountered by GP trainees. We also sought to establish associations of GP trainee's skin disease experience, including their personal characteristics, consultation factors, and the actions arising from the consultation. METHODS: This study took place in the Registrars Clinical Encounters in Training (ReCEnT) study. ReCEnT is an ongoing, prospective, multi-site cohort study of Australian GP trainees' consultations. A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was performed on trainees' consultation data. RESULTS: In total, 645 individual trainees contributed data from 84 615 consultations. Altogether, 11% of all problems managed were skin problems. Infections, dermatitis, injury and wounds were the most common presentations. Associations of consultations for skin problems (compared with all other problems) included seeking in-consultation advice, planning patient follow up and generating learning goals. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest GP trainees find skin problems challenging and may indicate a need for more and better targeted undergraduate and GP trainee education.
Authors: Anneliese Willems; Amanda Tapley; Alison Fielding; Er Tsing Vivian Tng; Elizabeth G Holliday; Mieke L van Driel; Jean I Ball; Andrew R Davey; Irena Patsan; Kristen FitzGerald; Neil A Spike; Parker J Magin Journal: Dermatol Pract Concept Date: 2021-09-01
Authors: Sameerah Nawaz; Amanda Tapley; Andrew R Davey; Mieke L van Driel; Alison Fielding; Elizabeth G Holliday; Jean Ball; Irena Patsan; Alyse Berrigan; Simon Morgan; Neil A Spike; Kristen FitzGerald; Parker Magin Journal: Dermatol Pract Concept Date: 2021-05-20
Authors: Anneliese Willems; Amanda Tapley; Alison Fielding; Vivian Tng; Elizabeth G Holliday; Mieke L van Driel; Jean I Ball; Andrew R Davey; Kristen FitzGerald; Neil A Spike; Parker J Magin Journal: Dermatol Pract Concept Date: 2021-01-29
Authors: Clare Heal; Hilary Gorges; Mieke L van Driel; Amanda Tapley; Josh Davis; Andrew Davey; L Holliday; Jean Ball; Nashwa Najib; Neil Spike; Kristen FitzGerald; Parker Magin Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-10-28 Impact factor: 2.692