Improving confidence in assessing black and brown skin in advanced clinical practice students through a targeted teaching session
Aileen McCartney, Emma ScanlanBackground:
People with black and brown skin tones are at risk of delayed or missed diagnoses due to variations in clinical presentation and limited clinician confidence.
Aim:
To evaluate whether a targeted teaching session improves confidence among advanced clinical practice (ACP) students in assessing black and brown skin.
Methods:
A small-scale action research study was conducted within a postgraduate MSc Advanced Practice programme. A 60-minute online teaching session was delivered to ACP students, incorporating case-based learning and clinical imagery. Participants completed pre-, post- and one-month follow-up surveys using Likert-scale questions to assess self-reported confidence, with optional free-text responses. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively. The study was reported in line with SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines.
Findings:
The six came from mixed professional backgrounds (predominantly nursing) and they completed all stages of the study. Baseline confidence in assessing black and brown skin was low across all participants. Following the intervention, confidence improved, particularly in recognising signs of ill health, with some retention at one month.
Conclusion:
Targeted teaching may improve short-term confidence in assessing black and brown skin among ACP students. Further research is needed to determine how best to sustain these improvements and evaluate their impact on clinical competence and practice.