Evaluation of Family Physicians’ Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Different Dermatological Diseases

TL;DR

This study examines how family physicians in Türkiye diagnose and treat common skin diseases and highlights the need for better training in dermatology.

Contribution

The study identifies the most common dermatological diseases managed by family physicians and emphasizes the need for enhanced dermatology education.

Findings

Fungal infections, scabies, acne vulgaris, and herpes simplex are the most common skin diseases encountered by family physicians.

Family physicians feel most competent in treating herpes simplex, fungal infections, and scabies.

The study suggests that intensified dermatology training is needed to improve diagnostic and therapeutic skills.

Abstract

Skin-related health problems constitute a considerable portion of the reasons for consulting a family physician. Therefore, family physicians play a key role as gatekeepers in evaluating the signs and symptoms of various skin diseases, triaging the patients, and deciding upon the necessity for referral. The aim was to investigate the most common dermatological diseases encountered by family physicians in the outpatient clinics and determine the diagnostic and remedial approach of family physicians to these skin diseases in Türkiye.

An online questionnaire composed of 48 questions related to the demographic and educational information of the participants, the most frequently seen dermatoses in outpatient settings, and the management skills of the participants for various skin disorders, was created using Google Forms. Via instant messaging and e-mail, the survey was distributed among practitioner family physicians, family physician residents, and family medicine specialists who were actively employed in different healthcare facilities in Türkiye. The snowball sampling method was used to convey the survey.

The present questionnaire-based study was conducted between October 2024 and January 2025. A total number of 176 participants who were actively working in different healthcare facilities in Türkiye were included in the study. The median number of patients examined in a month was 1025 (range: 90-4000). The most commonly encountered cutaneous diseases were fungal infections of the hair, nail, skin, and mucous membranes (91.5%) followed by scabies (80.1%), acne vulgaris (72.2%), and herpes simplex infection (65.9%). Herpes simplex infections, fungal infections of the skin, hair, nails, mucosa, and scabies were the 3 leading skin diseases at which family physicians felt competent while administering treatment.

The results of the current study point out that since family physicians deal with a relatively high rate of skin disorders in their daily practice, it is quite essential to reinforce their diagnostic and therapeutic proficiencies through intensified dermatology courses and rotations.

Figures