Accuracy and confidence of Irish general practitioners in diagnosing skin disease in patients with darkly pigmented skin

Rachel Rey; Eileen Duggan; Cathal O'Connor

doi:10.1002/ski2.465

Accuracy and confidence of Irish general practitioners in diagnosing skin disease in patients with darkly pigmented skin

Skin Health Dis. 2024 Oct 21;4(6):e465. doi: 10.1002/ski2.465. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Authors

Rachel Rey¹, Eileen Duggan¹, Cathal O'Connor^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Medicine University College Cork Cork Ireland.
² Dermatology South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital Cork Ireland.
³ INFANT Research Centre University College Cork Cork Ireland.

Abstract

Managing skin conditions in patients with darkly pigmented skin (DPS) can be challenging due to inadequate exposure to dermatology in DPS in clinical training. In this study, Irish GPs were less likely to correctly diagnose common skin conditions in patients with DPS (p < 0.001) and had lower confidence levels in diagnosis in DPS (p < 0.001). Lower diagnostic accuracy and confidence with common skin conditions in DPS in primary care may lead to misdiagnosis, suboptimal treatment and increased referrals to dermatology.