Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41706681›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Testing undergraduate medical students' ability to correctly identify skin conditions in skin of color-A pre-post-study at a medical school in Germany.

Finn Abeck, Ines Heinen, Isabel Heidrich, Julian Kött, Rachel Sommer, Christine Blome, Martin Härter, Matthias Augustin, Stefan W Schneider, Inga Hansen-Abeck and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Finn AbeckDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-0736
Ines HeinenDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Isabel HeidrichDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Julian KöttDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Rachel SommerInstitute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Christine BlomeInstitute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Martin HärterDepartment of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7443-9890
Matthias AugustinInstitute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Stefan W SchneiderDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Inga Hansen-AbeckDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Nina BookenDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesLimited representation of diverse skin types in dermatology training hinders physicians' ability to diagnose and treat patients with skin of color (SoC), thus contributing to health disparities. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a mandatory seminar in improving medical students' ability to correctly identify skin conditions in SoC, as measured by objective tests.

methodsThe pre-post design study was conducted among fourth year medical students at the University of Hamburg (Germany) between October 2024 and February 2025. A multiple-choice test using clinical images of eight SoC skin conditions assessed visual diagnostic skills at the beginning and end of a seminar.

resultsThe analysis included surveys from a total of 142 students (57.7% female, mean age: 25.2 years). The lowest pre-seminar identification rates were observed for melasma (26.8%) and keloids (40.1%). The overall identification rate improved significantly from 54.8% at the beginning of the seminar to 92.5% at the end of the seminar. The greatest increases in the proportion of correct diagnoses were found for melasma (+ 65.5%), keloids (+ 51.4%), and tinea (+ 47.9%). Furthermore, self-assessed knowledge on skin type classification scales and anatomical and physiological differences between light skin and SoC increased at the end of the seminar.

conclusionThe seminar effectively improved students' ability to correctly identify skin conditions in SoC. Integrating SoC-focused training into medical curricula can bridge knowledge lacunae and thus help reduce health disparities by equipping future physicians in providing equitable care.

Indexed as

Education, Medical, UndergraduateSkin DiseasesSkin PigmentationStudents, MedicalAdultClinical CompetenceDermatologyFemaleGermanyHumansMaleSchools, MedicalYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41706681
PMCPMC12915950

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.