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Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Garg, A; Wang, J; Reddy, SB; Powers, J; Jacob, R; Powers, M; Biello, K; Cayce, R; Savory, S; Belazarian, L; Domingues, E; Korzenko, A ...
Published in: JAMA Dermatol
August 2014

IMPORTANCE: 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. OBJECTIVES: To identify curricular factors associated with medical students' confidence, intent, and performance regarding the SCE. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: 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. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Primary outcomes were confidence in performing the SCE, intent to perform an integrated skin examination, and actual performance of the SCE. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: 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.

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Published In

JAMA Dermatol

DOI

EISSN

2168-6084

Publication Date

August 2014

Volume

150

Issue

8

Start / End Page

850 / 855

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Students, Medical
  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Self Efficacy
  • Schools, Medical
  • Physical Examination
  • Melanoma
  • Male
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Garg, A., Wang, J., Reddy, S. B., Powers, J., Jacob, R., Powers, M., … Integrated Skin Exam Consortium, . (2014). Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium. JAMA Dermatol, 150(8), 850–855. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.8723
Garg, Amit, Joyce Wang, Shalini B. Reddy, Jennifer Powers, Reza Jacob, Michael Powers, Katie Biello, et al. “Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium.JAMA Dermatol 150, no. 8 (August 2014): 850–55. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.8723.
Garg, Amit, et al. “Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium.JAMA Dermatol, vol. 150, no. 8, Aug. 2014, pp. 850–55. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2013.8723.
Garg A, Wang J, Reddy SB, Powers J, Jacob R, Powers M, Biello K, Cayce R, Savory S, Belazarian L, Domingues E, Korzenko A, Wilson L, Grant-Kels JM, George P, Robinson-Bostom L, Trotter SC, Geller AC, Integrated Skin Exam Consortium. Curricular factors associated with medical students' practice of the skin cancer examination: an educational enhancement initiative by the integrated skin exam consortium. JAMA Dermatol. 2014 Aug;150(8):850–855.

Published In

JAMA Dermatol

DOI

EISSN

2168-6084

Publication Date

August 2014

Volume

150

Issue

8

Start / End Page

850 / 855

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Time Factors
  • Task Performance and Analysis
  • Students, Medical
  • Skin Neoplasms
  • Self Efficacy
  • Schools, Medical
  • Physical Examination
  • Melanoma
  • Male