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Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Australian General practitioners’ confidence in dermatology diagnosis and management: cross-sectional survey
Family practice, Vol.42(4), pp.1-8
08/2025
PMID: 40720207
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
Introduction: General practitioner (GP) confidence in management and diagnosis across the range of dermatological conditions has not been
well-explored.
Objectives: This study aimed to document Australian GPs’ confidence and its associations in diagnosing and managing dermatological
presentations.
Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study of Australian GPs. Recruitment was through the restricted Facebook group (‘GPs Down
Under’) and 2022 Royal Australian College of General Practice conference attendees. Items elicited practitioner and practice demographics,
dermatology educational experience, and confidence levels in diagnosing and managing 28 dermatological curriculum areas.
Results: Respondents (n = 278) were most confident in managing eczema, bacterial skin infections, acne, contact dermatitis, and fungal skin
diseases. They reported lower confidence for nail disease, connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, vascular tumours and malformations, and cutaneous manifestations of internal diseases. GPs reported greater confidence in managing, as opposed to diagnosing, melanoma and melanocytic lesions, premalignant and malignant keratinocyte skin cancers, sexually transmitted infections, and the skin and viral exanthems. Melanoma and melanocytic lesions, premalignant and malignant keratinocyte skin cancers were perceived as the greatest learning priorities.
Conclusions: While Australian GPs report high confidence in diagnosing and managing common dermatological conditions, confidence declines
for rarer, more complex presentations. Notably, GPs feel more confident in managing skin cancers than diagnosing them, indicating a need for
enhanced training in diagnostic skills, particularly dermoscopy. These findings have implications for education delivery.
Details
- Title
- Australian General practitioners’ confidence in dermatology diagnosis and management: cross-sectional survey
- Creators
- Anneliese Willems - Skin Health InstituteAlvin H Chong - Skin Health InstituteAmanda Tapley - University of Newcastle AustraliaSandra Grace - Southern Cross UniversityParker Magin - University of Newcastle Australia
- Publication Details
- Family practice, Vol.42(4), pp.1-8
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press; OXFORD
- Grant note
- Funding for data analysis for the study was from the Skin Health Institute.
- Identifiers
- 991013300223702368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025.
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article