Teaching Dermatology to Internal Medicine Residents: Needs Assessment Survey and Possible Directions

Background: Internal medicine trainees receive limited teaching and training in dermatology and may feel inadequately prepared to assess and manage patients with dermatologic complaints. No study to date has assessed the needs of internal medicine trainees in Canada with regard to dermatology teaching. Objective: To determine internal medicine residents' comfort in assessing and managing dermatologic issues and their educational needs in dermatology. Methods: An electronic survey was conducted of first-, second-, and third-year internal medicine residents at the University of Toronto. Results: Fifty-four of 186 internal medicine trainees responded to our survey (response rate = 29%). Each respondent did not answer every question. Residents were generally uncomfortable or very uncomfortable assessing and managing dermatologic issues in the emergency department (40 of 47, 85%), ward or intensive care unit (39 of 47, 83%), and ambulatory clinic (40 of 47, 85%). Residents thought that various clinical and didactic dermatology exposures would be useful to their training as internists. Case-based teaching and ambulatory clinical rotations were felt to be particularly valuable. Additionally, 38 of 46 (83%) respondents wanted to learn how to perform punch biopsies. Conclusions: An effort should be made to increase the availability of relevant dermatology teaching and clinical exposures for internal medicine residents.