Background:

the incidence of skin cancer has tripled, so knowledge about risk factors and prevention is necessary for the general practitioner in training.

Objective:

to diagnose the way in which the prevention of skin cancer is approached in the Dermatology subject.

Methods:

pedagogical research developed at the Cienfuegos University of Medical Sciences. The requirements for the treatment of the prevention of skin cancer in the Dermatology subject were analyzed. An interview was applied to an intentional sample of Dermatology professors and student surveys. The analysis of guiding documents, programs, etc. was carried out.

Results:

students receive the subject during their fifth year of the degree. All the professors agree that within the prevention topics taught in the career, the one related to skin cancer is not addressed; the 82.8% refer that the subject is addressed in a conference; basically the diagnosis of sick patients and the aspects of prevention are used with less relevance. All students agree that skin cancer is never mentioned as an important location that is susceptible to preventive measures; the 85.7% refer that it is a very long topic and more emphasis is placed on diagnosing injuries, classifying them, treating them and not on how to prevent them, in addition, many patients are not observed in practice in order to identify them.

Conclusions:

the way in which the topic of skin cancer prevention is approached in the Dermatology subject is not enough for what the general practitioner needs.

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