Task Shifting in Dermatology: A Call to Action

JAMA Dermatol. 2017 Nov 1;153(11):1179-1180. doi: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2017.3342.

Abstract

Clinical question: Can task shifting be used to improve the delivery of dermatologic care in resource-poor settings worldwide?

Bottom line: Task shifting is a means of redistributing available resources, whereby highly trained individuals train an available workforce to provide necessary care in low-resource settings. Limited evidence exists for task shifting in dermatology; however, studies from psychiatry demonstrate its efficacy. In the field of dermatology there is a need for high-quality evidence including randomized clinical trials to validate the implementation of task shifting in low-resource settings globally.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Delivery of Health Care / economics
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Dermatologists / economics
  • Dermatologists / organization & administration*
  • Dermatology / economics
  • Dermatology / organization & administration*
  • Developing Countries
  • Global Health
  • Humans
  • Skin Diseases / therapy*