Effect of Histopathological Explanations for Dermoscopic Criteria on Learning Curves in Skin Cancer Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Citation: Kvorning Ternov N, Tolsgaard M, Konge L, et al. Effect of Histopathological Explanations for Dermoscopic Criteria on Learning Curves in Skin Cancer Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Dermatol Pract Concept. 2023;13(2):e2023105. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5826/dpc.1302a105

Accepted: October 20, 2022; Published: April 2023

Copyright: ©2023 Kvorning Ternov et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License (BY-NC-4.0), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original authors and source are credited.

Funding: None.

Competing interests: NKT is CEO and co-founder of the start-up MelaTech ApS that developed the educational mobile application used in this trial. RAS has received fees for professional services from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Lt​d, Evaxion, Provectus Biopharmaceuticals Australia, Qbiotics, Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme, NeraCare, AMGEN Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb, Myriad Genetics, GlaxoSmithKline.

Authorship: All authors have contributed significantly to this publication.

Corresponding author: Niels Kvorning Ternov, Dep. of Plastic Surgery, Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 1, 2370 Herlev, Denmark. Email: niels.kvorning.ternov@regionh.dk

Abstract

Introduction: Case-based training improves novices pattern recognition and diagnostic accuracy in skin cancer diagnostics. However, it is unclear how pattern recognition is best taught in conjunction with the knowledge needed to justify a diagnosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether an explanation of the underlying histopathological reason for dermoscopic criteria improves skill acquisition and retention during case-based training in skin cancer diagnostics.

Methods: In this double-blinded randomized controlled trial, medical students underwent eight days of case-based training in skin cancer diagnostics, which included access to written diagnosis modules. The modules dermoscopic subsections differed between the study groups. All participants received a general description of the criteria, but the intervention group additionally received a histopathological explanation.

Results: Most participants (78%) passed a reliable test in skin cancer diagnostics, following a mean training time of 217 minutes. Access to histopathological explanations did not affect participants' learning curves or skill retention.

Conclusions: The histopathological explanation did not affect the students, but the overall educational approach was efficient and scalable.

Keywords : education, melanoma, pigmented lesions, dermatopathology, carcinoma

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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