Before an application is made you need to have confirmation of place being available to you, therefore please contact Kathy Radley via email in the first instance - K.Radley@herts.ac.uk 

This module aims to enable practitioners to use dermoscopic skills to separate benign from malignant skin lesions, facilitating early detection and management of skin cancer. Dermoscopy is an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of skin lesions and specialists involved in assessing pigmented lesions must use dermsocopy as part of their clinical assessment. This module, combines classroom teaching, work based learning and competency based assessment and has been developed to meet the needs of health care professionals involved regularly in the diagnosis and management of skin lesions.

Participants will need previous and ongoing regular access to large numbers of patients with skin lesions and a suitable clinical supervisor who uses dermoscopy regularly in clinical practice. A log diary of a minimum of 50 patients during the study period will form an essential part of the assessment.

These pre-requisites form part of the module entry criteria.

ENTRY CRITERIA -

Current clinical experience of a minimum of 1 year full time or equivalent in a clinical setting with access to patients with chronic skin conditions.

·         Registered Health Care Professional                                        

·         Able to attend all the required days of classroom teaching and formal assessment

·         Regular access and exposure to patients with benign and malignant skin lesions in a suitable clinical environment to be able to complete the appropriate log diary and portfolio of cases

·         Previous and ongoing experience in the management and surveillance of a range of skin lesions, including a knowledge of relevant guidance in relation to the management of skin cancer and multi-disciplinary team working

·         The HCP will work in the required clinical environment and, if not already making independent clinical decisions, will be moving towards independent clinical decision making.

Specific Clinical Criteria                                

·         The student will be regularly performing dermoscopic examinations of skin lesions in a supervised clinical learning environment

·         Be able to complete a log diary of 50 cases and a more detailed clinical portfolio of ten cases during the semester of study

·         Be in a position to take/collect their own dermoscopy photographs for the clinical portfolio working either independently or with the medical illustration department in the context of relevant legal frameworks

·         Access to a clinical supervisor that uses dermoscopy on a regular basis and is experienced in its use in the diagnosis of skin lesions; usually a dermatologist working in a specialist setting

Dermoscopy Clinical Portfolio - 100%

Practical OSCE - Interpretation of dermoscopic images - Pass/Fail

The emphasis is to develop and consolidate skills in dermoscopy leading to the appropriate and timely management of skin lesions. It will include the following:

• The correct use of dermoscopy equipment

• The evidence base for use of dermoscopy in day to day clinical practice

• Typical dermoscopic features of common benign and malignant skin lesions

• Use of dermoscopy in the context of skin lesion care pathways and national guidance (NICE)

• Introduction to tele-dermoscopy, mole mapping and teledermatology.