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- Page navigation anchor for The content and conduct of GP consultations for dermatology problems: a cross-sectional studyThe content and conduct of GP consultations for dermatology problems: a cross-sectional study
Le Roux and colleagues identify that 1 in 7 consultations in GP has a dermatology component. The dermatology issue(s) consume 40% of the consultation time. Perhaps our patients with common chronic dermatological conditions merit substantially more of our precious clinical time?
Competing Interests: None declared. - Page navigation anchor for Dermatology teaching within general practiceDermatology teaching within general practiceA recent cross-sectional study assessing the content of GP consultations demonstrates the high frequency of dermatological conditions presenting to general practice (14.2%).1 Furthermore, the large majority of these presentations (71.1%) were as secondary complaints. Since dermatological conditions constitute a considerable amount of consultation time and only 15.7% of cases are referred to secondary care, it is essential that GPs are equipped to deal with this. Given that roughly 50% of medical students become GPs, it is important that adequate dermatology teaching is provided at an early stage of study.As medical students, we note that our experience of dermatology teaching is somewhat lacking. Since dermatology is seen as a specialty, it does not receive equal attention to that of other general medicine rotations. This limits our exposure to red flag and emergency presentations, which as GPs we would be expected to identify and proceed appropriately. Moreover, this lack of teaching leaves much of the exposure and learning to take place within a GP setting where time allocated to dermatological conditions is already scarce.1We also note that our teaching and wider medical resources have a racial bias. Dermatology is often considered a speciality of ‘spot diagnosis’ and therefore relies heavily on images to commit presentations to memory. However, it is widely reported...Show MoreCompeting Interests: None declared.