In light of the lack of data on the diagnoses reached at outpatient dermatology clinics throughout Spain, the authors of the article decided to design the DIADERM study, whose objective was to analyze the diagnoses reached in these settings.

A number of members of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), representing each of Spain's autonomous communities, were randomly selected. Over the course of two 3-day periods, these dermatologists recorded the diagnoses reached in the course of their clinical practice as well as additional patient data.

The authors estimated that more than 600 000 patients per month receive a diagnosis from a dermatologist in Spain and that an average of 28 patients are seen per day per clinic (a higher number than in other specialties). Most patients in public health care settings were referred by a primary care physician, whereas personal initiative was the most common patient origin in private settings. The most frequent diagnoses were actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma, and melanocytic nevi.

This was the first nationwide study in Spain to analyze the diagnoses reached in outpatient dermatology clinics. The information gathered in this study should be used to guide health care planning and to lay the groundwork for future studies.