@article{10.22454/FamMed.2023.766642,
author = {Lamb, Jordan E. and Stone, Andre X. and Davis, Esa M. and James, Alaina J.},
title = {Visual Learning Equity: A Course Auditing System of Skin Color in Preclinical Medical Education},
journal = {Family Medicine},
volume = {55},
number = {6},
year = {2023},
month = {6},
pages = {375-380},
doi = {10.22454/FamMed.2023.766642},
abstract = {Background and Objectives: Visual learning equity is a health justice effort in response to the lack of representation of brown and black skin images in medical education. This paucity creates a knowledge gap and decreases providers’ competence in managing skin disease in minoritized populations. Herein, we aimed to create a standardized course auditing system to assess the use of brown and black skin images in medical education.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2020-2021 preclinical curriculum at one US medical school. All human images in the learning material were analyzed. Skin color was categorized as light/white, medium/brown, and dark/black using the Massey-Martin New Immigrant Survey Skin Color Scale.
Results: We included 1,660 unique images in our analysis; 71.3%, (n=1,183) were light/white, 16.1% (n=267) were medium/brown and 12.7% (n=210) were dark/black. Dermatologic images of skin, hair, nails, or mucosal disease made up 62.1% (n=1,031) of the images and 68.1% (n=702) were light/white. The pulmonary course presented the highest proportion of light/white skin (88.0%, n=44/50) and the dermatology course presented the lowest proportion of light/white skin (59.0%, n=301/510). Images of infectious diseases were more frequently presented in darker skin colors (χ2 [2]=15.46, P<.001).
Conclusions: Light/white skin was the standard used for visual learning images in the medical school curriculum at this institution. The authors outline steps to perform a curriculum audit and diversify medical curricula to ensure the next generation of physicians are educated to care for all patients.},
URL = {https://journals.stfm.org//familymedicine/2023/june/lamb-0213/},
eprint = {https://journals.stfm.org//media/5703/lamb.pdf},
}