title: Preparedness of Foundation Year 1 doctors in dermatology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  UK medical graduates are required to reach standards defined by the General Medical Council (in Tomorrows Doctors) in all specialties, including dermatology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the self-reported competence of Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors in the diagnosis and management of skin disease correlated against their undergraduate dermatology experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  The FY1 doctors attending a teaching programme were surveyed at six hospital sites throughout the North Western Deanery. Questionnaires were completed on self-reported competence in learning outcomes defined by the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD). Information recorded previous undergraduate teaching (duration and delivery), and whether they felt sufficiently prepared to diagnose and manage patients with skin disease in their clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 174 FY1 doctors, 118 attended the teaching sessions. All of the attendees completed a questionnaire. Trainees who undertook longitudinal placements in dermatology (defined as 10 or more half days of clinical experience) regarded themselves significantly more prepared to practise for their stage of training: 61 per cent compared with 8.9 per cent (χ(2) = 32.8, df = 1, p < 0.05). Furthermore, these trainees rated their abilities in basic history taking, clinical examination, management of dermatological emergencies and diagnosis of skin malignancy as being greater than those who had not experienced longitudinal placements in the specialty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Longitudinal placements in dermatology offer undergraduates experience in the diagnosis and management of skin disease that develops confidence for foundation practice.
authors.affiliation: The Dermatology Centre, Salford Royal Foundation Trust, and North Western Deanery, Manchester, UK. philip.laws@srft.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Philip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Laws
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Minal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003880:Dermatology / Q000193:education*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D010820:Physicians; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires