Analysis of dermoscopy teaching modalities in United States dermatology residency programs

The use of dermoscopy in dermatology residency programs is on the rise (over 94% of chief residents reported using a dermatoscope in 2013) [1]. Despite increased use (100% of our surveyed residents reported using a dermatoscope), dermoscopy training is one of the aspects of United States dermatology residency training with the lowest resident satisfaction [2]. Diagnostic accuracy with dermoscopy is highly correlated with the amount of dermoscopy training the user has undertaken [3]. We sought to analyze dermoscopy use in US Dermatology residencies to better understand resident dermoscopy utilization and teaching modalities. We found residents learn dermoscopy via multiple teaching modalities. The most commonly reported dermoscopy teaching modality was didactic lectures, followed by time in clinic with a dermoscopy expert. Of the different teaching modalities, time in the clinic with a dermoscopy expert was reported to be the most effective. We also found that the majority of dermatology residents receive didactic dermoscopy lectures and clinical dermoscopy training on the differentiation of benign nevi from melanoma using dermoscopy, the detection of basal cell carcinoma, and the identification of seborrheic keratosis. However, few residents receive dedicated training on the use of dermoscopy in the evaluation of inflammatory dermatoses and skin infections despite dermoscopy’s demonstrated value in both areas [4–7].