Inter-institutional analysis of skin of color representation in dermatological lecture content at MD and DO Medical Schools

Authors

Oluwafunke Oluwatosin Ogunremi, University of South Dakota Sanford School of MedicineFollow
Blake Fredericksen, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
John Komas, West Virginia University School of MedicineFollow
Sana Ismail, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow
Siri Knutsen-Larson MD, University of South Dakota Sanford School of MedicineFollow
Valeriy Kozmenko MD, University of South Dakota Sanford School of MedicineFollow
Afia Albin DO, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic MedicineFollow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the lecture materials provided in medical schools through a diversity lens. Skin pathologies manifest distinctively on various shades of skin and physicians must be equipped with the proper knowledge to identify and diagnose these conditions accurately and promptly. For most medical students, images in prominent textbooks and lecture slides are their first encounter with disease presentations. Therefore, it is important to analyze the diversity of skin tones in the content that is being delivered. Specifically, the use of images featuring darker skin tones compared to those depicting lighter skin tones. This study analyzed lecture materials from two allopathic and two osteopathic medical schools. The analysis was limited to lectures given during the Skin/MSK block or dermatology block. The skin pathologies were organized into five categories: Inflammatory Disorders, Infectious Skin Disorders, Pigmented Disorders, Non-Pigmented Disorders, and Blistering Disorders. Images were classified as dark skin tones, light skin tones, and indeterminate based on the Fitzpatrick Scale. The results showed that of the 560 images analyzed, 96 images, or 17.14%, were representative of dark skin tones. 78.04% represented light skin-tone subjects and 4.82% were classified as indeterminate.

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Recommended Citation

Ogunremi OO, Fredericksen B, Komas J, et al. Inter-institutional analysis of skin of color representation in dermatological lecture content at MD and DO Medical Schools. Aesculapius. 2024 Dec 31; 5(1):Article 5. Available from: https://red.library.usd.edu/aesculapius/vol5/iss1/5. Free full text article.