Dear Sir
In Turkey, dermatology training in medical schools consists of a 1-month compulsory clinical training period in the fifth class. According to our national health system, graduates of medical schools are employed as general practitioners (GP) in primary health care centers. To determine the usefulness and efficacy of dermatological education given in medical faculties and to obtain the opinions of the GPs on the issue, we conducted a study on 98 GPs from primary health facilities in the city of Malatya. Fifty dermatology questions prepared for fifth class students of Inonu University Medical Faculty were asked to the GPs. The results were compared within the GP groups and with the points of students. The ratios of correct answers and the comments of the practitioners on the issue were also evaluated. The mean score for the practitioners (34.5 ± 8.63) was significantly lower than that of the students (71.8 ± 12.16) ( p < 0.05). The duration of practitionership, school of graduation, and marital status did not affect the number of correct answers. The most correct answers were on the commonly-seen diseases and topics suh as acne vulgaris, systemic corticosteroids, urticaria, and psoriasis. The contents of answers were considered as non-useful by 46%, useful by 31%, and less useful by 23% of practitioners.
This study revealed that dermatological education given by medical faculties is generally considered as non-useful and forgotten easily in time by GPs. It is concluded that undergraduate dermatology training needs to be re-evaluated and more practical work up should be preferred to heavy theoretical education in training. Continuing dermatological education to practitioners should also be applied periodically. Other studies conducted on the issue from different points of view are adviced.