Teaching gap in skin tones considerations

Authors and presenters*

• Lap San Howitt, School of Nursing, CoHM*

• Clinton Au, School of Paramedicine, CoHM*

• Catherine Teare, School of Nursing, CoHM

• Laura Evans, School of Nursing, CoHM*

• Kerry Reid Searle, School of Nursing, CoHM

• Angela Rao-Newton, School of Nursing, CoHM*

Abstract

Health assessment teaching and practices remain Eurocentric and are not inclusive of people with various skin tones.

This Showcase presentation will progress discussion of the initiative introduced in our 2023 Lightning presentation. Our aims were to:

1. Embed examples of biological differences in physical assessment that are inclusive of different skin tones in undergraduate nursing and paramedicine module content and clinical assessment

2. Identify the proportion of students who correctly identify a skin tone consideration within their Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)/Portfolio assessment

3. Understand student perspectives of the inclusion of skin tone considerations in physical assessment.

Learning content was adjusted within nursing and paramedicine units to include a five-minute video embedded in MyLO module content and pictures illustrating differences in skin diseases, perfusion, and pupillary assessment. OSCE/Portfolio assessments included one additional (non-weighted) skin tone consideration criteria. Students were invited to participate in a two-item, anonymous post-unit survey specific to the embedding of skin tones content.

The skin tones module was viewed by 23% of all students. A skin tone consideration was correctly identified by one fifth of students who completed their OSCE/Portfolio assessment. The mean satisfaction score (1 not satisfied at all, 6, very satisfied) regarding the inclusion of the skin tones content was 3.86 (SD±1.7). Open-ended feedback revealed three key themes: a) the need for further depth in the exploration of skin tone assessment; b) desire for skin tones content to include real world examples; c) lack of appreciation of skin tones considerations.

Better integration of skin tone module content and expansion of this inclusive practice to other undergraduate nursing and paramedicine units is needed.