Abstract
Background Dermoscopy is known to increase the diagnostic accuracy of pigmented skin lesions (PSLs) when used by trained professionals.
The effect of dermoscopy training on the diagnostic ability of dermal therapists (DTs) has not been studied so far.
Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether DTs, in comparison with general practitioners (GPs), benefited from a training programme including dermoscopy, in both their ability to differentiate between different forms of PSL and to assign the correct therapeutic
strategy.
Methods In total, 24 DTs and 96 GPs attended a training programme on PSLs. Diagnostic skills as well as therapeutic strategy were assessed, prior to the training (pretest) and after the training (post-test) using clinical images alone, as well as after the addition of dermatoscopic
images (integrated post-test). Bayesian hypothesis testing was used to determine statistical significance of differences between pretest,
post-test and integrated post-test scores.
Results Both the DTs and the GPs demonstrated benefit from the training: at the integrated post-test, the median proportion of correctly
diagnosed PSLs was 73% (range 30–90) for GPs and 63% (range 27–80) for DTs. A statistically significant difference between pretest results
and integrated test results was seen, with a Bayes factor>100. At 12 percentage points higher, the GPs outperformed DTs in the accuracy
of detecting PSLs.
Conclusions The study shows that a training programme focusing on PSLs while including dermoscopy positively impacts detection of
PSLs by DTs and GPs. This training programme could form an integral part of the training of DTs in screening procedures, although additional
research is needed