ABSTRACT
Background: Dermatoscopy is a noninvasive method of examining skin lesions under high magnification, gradually replacing the need for invasive biopsies. Training is required to gain clinical competency. Gamification employs game-like elements to enhance education engagement and is an engaging means of delivering medical education. We sought to use gamification and a mobile-based platform to deliver dermatoscopy education to physicians. Methods: We developed SKIN@GoPRIME, an interactive smartphone platform. Thirty physician participants were randomly assigned to watch an online dermatoscopy lecture or to use SKIN@GoPRIME. Twenty-eight participants completed prelearning and postlearning quizzes and provided feedback on SKIN@GoPRIME. Results: Users of SKIN@GoPRIME demonstrated a significant 1.71-point mean score improvement (P = .0018). The group that watched the online dermatoscopy lecture had a higher 2.36-point mean score improvement (P = .00021). Both family medicine and internal medicine physicians demonstrated a significant mean score increase of 1.29 (P = .049) and 2.14 (P = .023), respectively, after using SKIN@GoPRIME. Based on feedback, 83% believed that SKIN@GoPRIME can be used to acquire the applied competencies required for their job scope. Discussion and Conclusion: SKIN@GoPRIME, a novel learning tool via gamification effectively delivers dermatoscopy education, although it is not shown to be more effective than lectures. Larger studies are required to further validate the effectiveness of gamified learning techniques in dermatoscopy education. Future studies should involve the optimization of SKIN@GoPRIME to more effectively deliver dermatoscopy education.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent chronic inflammatory skin conditions. We aimed to describe the clinical features of adult-onset and childhood-onset AD in a multi-ethnic Asian population. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 188 patients with AD managed at a tertiary skin institution in Singapore. Patient demographics, clinical features and disease scores were analysed. RESULTS: Clinical features related to pigmentary changes, such as orbital darkening and Dennie-Morgan folds were more prevalent among childhood-onset AD patients than in adult-onset AD patients. Similarly, features related to prolonged scratching or friction, such as anterior neck folds, perifollicular accentuation and infra-auricular/infranasal fissuring were also more prevalent in childhood-onset AD patients. Disease scores such as SCORAD and EASI were not different between patients with childhood versus adult-onset disease. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in clinical features between childhood-onset and adult-onset AD. Certain features are related to pigmentary changes and might be more accentuated in patients with skin of colour. Further studies are needed to understand how the different features might be clinically significant and related to the various AD endotypes and disease trajectories.
