The doctors' perception of skin diseases in general practice in Denmark, with emphasis on atopic dermatitis: A descriptive study

Background

Skin symptoms are a common reason for consulting a medical doctor, for example a general practitioner (GP) in countries where GPs function as gatekeepers. Despite this, GPs have very sparse dermatological training in their Residency programme.

Objectives

To investigate management and challenges of skin diseases, in particular atopic dermatitis (AD), in general practice from the GPs' point of view.

Methods

A survey was sent out to all 298 GPs in the North Region of Denmark on 5 April 2022 and data collection continued until 8 June 2022. The survey contained three sections; demographic information about the GP, patients with dermatological problems in general practice, and lastly load, management, and perception of AD in general practice.

Results

A total of 94 GPs (31.5%) responded to the survey. Sixty-four percent of the GPs reported that 5%–10% of their consultations concerned dermatology, and 25% reported that in more than 10% of their consultations, patients have a secondary skin problem. Top three most frequent skin diagnoses were rated to be seborrhoeic keratoses, children with AD, and acne.

Conclusions

Consultations for skin diseases are very common in general practice, and very often, patients bring up their skin issue secondary to another problem. Forty-three percent of GPs in our study had taken postgraduate training in dermatology, which underlines the need for more dermatological education in the GPs' residency programme. Patients with AD are treated according to guidelines, and GPs find consultations with patients with AD complex. Lastly, there is a high rate of reconsultations for patients with AD.