Analysis of inpatient dermatologic referrals: insight into the educational needs of trainee doctors

To analyse inpatient consultation referrals to the Dermatology Department and to identify the educational needs of junior/trainee doctors.

Consultation data of inpatients referred to the Dermatology Department between 2001 and 2006 was reviewed.

There were 703 referrals identified. Patients were referred from all wards in the hospital. There were a total of 113 different dermatological diagnoses in the group. One-fifth (22%) consultations were for skin infections, 12% had atopic dermatitis, 8% had psoriasis and 8% had clear or suspected drug cause for their rash. In 391 cases, the Consultant Dermatologist's diagnosis was different to the inpatient referral diagnosis on the consultation referral form.

Our results emphasise the need for junior dermatology trainees to undertake extra training in both the dermatologic conditions. This data supports the need for expansion of service provision of dermatology in the region.