Improving Medical Student Confidence Performing Skin Biopsies Through an Interactive Workshop

Tue F. Nguyen, Bahar B. Momin, Anaya Shah, Pavela G. Bambekova, John C. Browning, Robert T. Gilson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: At the University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine, many students have expressed hesitancy in actively participating when a skin biopsy is needed at the community dermatology free clinic. To address this, we hosted a workshop where medical students could directly learn how to perform shave and punch biopsies from dermatology residents. Methods: A PowerPoint presentation covering the preparation, types, and aftercare of biopsies was given pre-workshop. Four dermatology residents were assigned to groups of students. During the workshop, students practiced the full procedure of performing a biopsy. Pre-and post-surveys were administered immediately and four months after the workshop. Qualitative responses were converted into a 4-point Likert scale, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis. Results: 26 student responses were collected immediately after, and 17 were collected four months after the workshop. There were significant increases in comfort assisting with performing skin biopsies (p <0.001), performing biopsies under supervision (p <0.001), and preparing for a biopsy (p <0.001) immediately and four months after the workshop. Additionally, there were significant increases in knowledge of the utility of biopsies (p <0.001) and the different biopsy types (p <0.001) immediately and four months after the workshop. The number of correct answers to the five-item knowledge quiz significantly increased (p <0.001) immediately and four months after the workshop. Conclusion: Our workshop improved student confidence in preparing for, assisting with, and performing skin biopsies and has demonstrated sustained efficacy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)996-1000
Number of pages5
JournalSKIN: Journal of Cutaneous Medicine
Volume7
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2023

Keywords

  • biopsy workshop
  • dermatology away rotations
  • dermatology education
  • skin biopsies
  • student-run free clinics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Dermatology

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