Improving Diagnostic Accuracy in Skin of Color Using an Educational Module

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Medical Education
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Dermatologic disparities significantly impact patients with skin of color (SOC).
• Addressing these disparities requires enhanced provider knowledge and confidence in diagnosing and treating SOC patients.
• Existing educational strategies may not adequately prepare healthcare professionals for the unique dermatologic needs of diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a targeted educational module designed to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment confidence among interprofessional healthcare providers caring for patients with skin of color.
• To assess the short-term and long-term impact of the educational intervention on provider knowledge and confidence.
• To provide evidence supporting the integration of specialized education for managing dermatologic conditions in skin of color.

Main Methods:

• Development of a focused educational module including a pretest, a 15-minute lecture, an immediate posttest, and a 3-month follow-up posttest.
• Recruitment of 100 interprofessional healthcare providers to complete the pretest and immediate posttest.
• Assessment of knowledge and confidence levels at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and three months post-intervention in a subset of 36 participants.

Main Results:

• The educational module demonstrated a significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy and confidence immediately following the intervention.
• A notable portion of participants (36 out of 100) completed the 3-month posttest, indicating sustained knowledge and confidence.
• Results suggest that the focused educational approach may lead to long-term benefits in managing dermatologic conditions in patients with skin of color.

Conclusions:

• A focused educational module can effectively enhance healthcare providers' ability to diagnose and treat dermatologic conditions in patients with skin of color.
• The intervention shows potential for providing durable improvements in diagnostic accuracy and confidence, addressing a critical gap in dermatologic care.
• Implementing specialized educational programs is crucial for mitigating dermatologic disparities and improving health outcomes for skin of color populations.