Retrospective Analysis of Inpatient Dermatologic Consultations in a Residency Training Program

Objective: This study assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of inpatient dermatologic diseases, examined trends over 3 academic years in a tertiary care hospital in Thailand, and evaluated their relevance to the current dermatology residency curriculum. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed at the Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Consultation records from July 2018 to June 2021 were assessed. Data extracted included patient age, sex, referring departments, and diagnoses. Results: Of the 1964 consultations, 2002 diagnoses were identified. Consistent with previous findings, the predominant diagnostic categories were drug eruptions (28.02%; 561), eczema (16.18%; 324), and viral infections (9.29%; 186). Internal medicine made the most requests, followed by surgery and orthopedics. While the prevalence of consulted diseases remained constant over the 3 academic years, the total number of consultations increased. Most of the consulted conditions were already covered in the “must-know” section of the dermatology residency curriculum, with a few exceptions. The consultation cases satisfied the inpatient evaluation requirements of Entrustable Professional Activity. Conclusion: The prevalence of inpatient dermatologic diseases was highest for drug eruptions, followed by eczema and viral infections. The consistent trend in the prevalence of these consulted diseases underscores the significance of inpatient dermatology. Incorporating these insights into revisions of the dermatology residency curriculum may enhance the training of dermatologists.