BMJ  2005;330:633-636 (19 March), doi:10.1136/bmj.330.7492.633

Learning in practice

What should undergraduate medical students know about psoriasis? Involving patients in curriculum development: modified Delphi technique

¹ Department of Dermatology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford OX3 9LJ

Abstract

Objective To identify the content of a psoriasis curriculum for medical students.

Design Literature review and modified Delphi technique.

Setting Primary and secondary care in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

Subjects 19 dermatologists (7 teaching hospital consultants; 6 consultants in district general hospitals; 6 registrars); 2 general practitioner senior house officers working in dermatology, 5 dermatology nurses, 7 rheumatologists, 25 general practitioner tutors, and 25 patients with chronic psoriasis.

Main outcome measures Percentage of agreement by participants to items derived from literature and our existing psoriasis syllabus.

Results 71 (84.5%) of 84 questionnaires were returned. A 75% level of consensus was reached on key items that focused on the common presentations of psoriasis, impact, management, and communication skills. Students should be aware of the psychosocial impact of psoriasis, examine the skin while showing sensitivity, and be able to explain psoriasis to patients in a way that enables patients to explain the condition to others.

Conclusions The panels identified the important items for a psoriasis curriculum. The views of patients were particularly helpful, and we encourage educators to involve patients with chronic diseases in developing curriculums in the future. The method and results could be generalised to curriculum development in chronic disease.

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