Training Primary Care Physicians in Dermoscopy for Skin Cancer Detection: a Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Medical Education

Background:

• Primary care physicians (PCPs) are the first point of contact for patients with concerning skin lesions.
• Dermoscopy use in primary care for skin cancer detection is supported by evidence, but training remains a barrier.
• The current methods and effectiveness of PCP training in dermoscopy are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping literature review on primary care physician (PCP) training in dermoscopy.
• To examine the existing published literature regarding PCP dermoscopy training programs and outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A scoping literature review following Arksey and O'Malley's methodology, revised by Levac et al.
• Searched four electronic databases for evidence published up to June 2018.
• Analyzed 16 identified articles, focusing on dermoscopy training programs and reported outcomes.

Main Results:

• Ten dermoscopy training programs were identified, primarily focusing on pigmented skin lesions.
• Ten articles reported generally positive outcomes in diagnostic performance after training.
• It remains unclear if trained PCPs continue dermoscopy use long-term; many use it without formal training.

Conclusions:

• The literature supports dermoscopy use by PCPs, but the long-term impact of current training is uncertain.
• Understanding PCP training needs is crucial for developing effective programs to increase dermoscopy adoption in primary care.
• Further research is needed to assess the sustained use of dermoscopy by PCPs post-training.