Resident Education: Effect of the Sixth National Psoriasis Foundation Chief Residents' Meeting

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis is a common problem, with patients frequently reporting dissatisfaction with their care. The National Psoriasis Foundation held its sixth annual Chief Residents' Meeting in October 2004 with the goal of educating dermatology residents about psoriasis. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess residents' knowledge about psoriasis before and after the meeting. Methods: Residents were given the same 11-question multiple-choice test before and after the meeting. Eighty-one residents completed the pretest and 41 completed the post-test. Results: Overall, the mean number of questions answered correctly increased from 5.2 of 11 (47%) on the pretest to 8.9 (81%) on the post-test ( p < .00001). Scores improved on the post-test in all subject areas. The greatest percent improvement occurred in the subjects of patient education and phototherapy. Conclusion: Although limited by small numbers and an unknown response bias, the National Psoriasis Foundation Chief Residents' Meeting was successful in educating the attendees about psoriasis; it is hoped that topic-specific resident education will lead to better patient care.