Department of Skin and VD, GMERS Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Vadodara, Gujarat, India.
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2019 Jul-Aug;85(4):380-387. doi: 10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_250_18.
Primary care physicians play a crucial role in managing patients with common skin disorders who form around one-third of outpatient attendees.
This study aimed to assess the need for dermatology training among primary care physicians by assessing their knowledge, self-perception of ability to diagnose and manage skin disorders, and their difficulties in managing these patients.
A descriptive, cross-sectional, needs assessment study was done among primary care physicians (n = 61) of rural (n = 34) and urban (n = 27) areas of Vadodara district. A pre-validated semi-structured questionnaire (for self-rating of the ability to diagnose/manage skin disorders and difficulties faced in managing patients) was used along with a photo-quiz (for knowledge assessment) while approaching primary care physicians during their monthly review meeting with prior permission. Data were analyzed by Epi Info software and manual content analysis.
The mean score on the photo-quiz was 4.1/10. Forty-three (70.5%) participants rated their ability to diagnose/manage skin disorders as 'average' on a five-point Likert scale. Various difficulties (n = 89) narrated by participants were related to their knowledge/skill, disease factors, patients and administrative aspects. Three-fourths of the participants managed difficulties by referring patients to dermatologists. One-third suggested conducting training in common skin disorders.
The study population included primary care physicians from the government healthcare setup only. Knowledge assessment was done using a short ten-item photo-quiz instead of actual patients.
Primary care physicians had poor knowledge of skin disorders, and a majority overrated their own ability for clinical management of these disorders. Most common difficulties faced were related to clinical management. There is a need for training on common skin disorders.
初级保健医生在管理常见皮肤疾病患者方面发挥着至关重要的作用，这些患者约占门诊患者的三分之一。
本研究旨在通过评估初级保健医生的皮肤科培训需求，评估他们对诊断和管理皮肤疾病的知识、自我能力感知以及管理这些患者的困难。
在巴罗达区农村（n=34）和城市（n=27）地区进行了一项描述性、横断面、需求评估研究，纳入了初级保健医生（n=61）。使用了预先验证的半结构式问卷（用于自我评估诊断/管理皮肤疾病的能力和管理患者时面临的困难）和照片测验（用于知识评估），在事先获得许可的情况下，在初级保健医生参加每月审查会议时接近他们。数据使用 Epi Info 软件和手动内容分析进行分析。
照片测验的平均得分为 4.1/10。43 名（70.5%）参与者在五分制量表上对自己诊断/管理皮肤疾病的能力评为“平均”。参与者叙述的各种困难（n=89）与他们的知识/技能、疾病因素、患者和行政方面有关。四分之三的参与者通过将患者转介给皮肤科医生来解决困难。三分之一的人建议对常见皮肤疾病进行培训。
研究人群仅包括政府医疗保健机构的初级保健医生。知识评估使用简短的十项照片测验进行，而不是实际患者。
初级保健医生对皮肤疾病的知识匮乏，大多数人高估了自己对这些疾病进行临床管理的能力。最常见的困难与临床管理有关。需要对常见皮肤疾病进行培训。
