Community Outreach Initiatives in Dermatology - Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Disparities in health care coverage, chronic diseases, mental health, and mortality among racial and ethnic groups, incarcerated individuals, and low-income communities are prevalent in the United States (U.S.). There is a need to address these shortfalls in access to care. Community outreach efforts can help reduce these disparities and bridge access to adequate healthcare to meet patient needs. In dermatology, there is a lack of studies assessing community outreach initiatives and whether these initiatives address diverse community needs. This cross-sectional study was designed to identify and categorize community outreach initiatives offered by academic dermatology programs in the U.S. to recognize potential areas of improvement to better serve our communities. We surveyed 142 ACGME-accredited U.S. dermatology programs regarding their community outreach initiatives and obtained information for 68% of the programs. Most dermatology residency programs provided traditionally popular community outreach initiatives like skin cancer screenings and free general dermatology clinics. Conversely, very few programs offered initiatives addressing the needs of patients of color, minoritized communities such as American Indians, or chronic skin disease patients. These may be opportunities to broaden our definition of community outreach and address the dermatological needs of all communities.