Methods Reporting Quality and its Association with Methods Section Length: A Cross-sectional Assessment of STROBE and CONSORT Reporting Adherence in Top-cited Dermatology Journals.

Background: Adequate methods reporting in observational and trial literature is critical to interpretation and implementation. Objective: Evaluate methodology reporting adherence in the dermatology literature and compare this to internal medicine (IM) literature. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional review of randomly-selected dermatology and IM manuscripts published between 2014-2018. Observational and trial articles were retrieved from PubMed. The primary outcome was percent adherence to STROBE or CONSORT methods-related checklist items (methods reporting score, MRS). Secondary outcomes included the relationship between methods section length (MSL) and MRS. We additionally compared these with IM literature. MRS and MSL were compared by overall article length, checklist type, field, journal, study topic, and funding source. Comparisons were assessed using univariable and multivariable linear regression. Results: We identified 389 articles (172 dermatology and 217 IM). Within dermatology, we identified 83 clinical trials and 89 observational studies. Mean MRS was 61.4 percent. A one word increase in MSL corresponded to a 0.02 percent increase MRS (ß=0.02, 95% CI 0.01-0.03). Mean MRS was 12.8 percent lower in the dermatology literature compared with IM (ß=-12.8%, -15.6-[-9.91]). Mean dermatology MSL was 345 words shorter (ß=-345, -413-[-277]). Studies from JAMA Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and British Journal of Dermatology, with government funding, and having supplemental methods had higher mean MRS's. Conclusion: Methods reporting quality was low in dermatology. A weak relationship between MRS and MSL was observed. These data support enhancing researcher emphasis on methods reporting, editorial staff, and peer reviewers that more strictly enforce checklist reporting.

A Single-Institution Cohort Study With Nevi of Special Site: Recurrence, Progression to Melanoma, and Patterns of Management.

ABSTRACT: Nevi of specialized sites (NOSS) occur on the scalp, ears, flexural, acral, and genital areas and display atypical clinical and histologic features. We assessed NOSS recurrence and progression to melanoma, management patterns, and associations between histologic features and treatment recommendations. We queried all histologic diagnoses of NOSS (n = 275) from 2012 to 2017 from a large U.S. academic medical center with reference dermatopathology laboratory and matched these to clinical records. A blinded panel of dermatopathologists re-evaluated lesions, catalogued histologic findings, and gave management recommendation. Associations with dermatopathologist decision and concordance between new and original recommendations were assessed. Of 117 cases with follow-up, 2 locally recurred (1.46%) and none eventuated in melanoma. Clinical features were not associated with original treatment recommendations. After histopathologic review, large melanocytes [odds ratio ratio (ORR) = 8.00, 95% CI, 1.35-47.4] and junctional mitotic figures (ORR = 65.0, 6.5-650) predicted excision recommendation. Likewise, accumulation of many (>9) high-risk features was associated with excision recommendation. Panel review changed treatment recommendation in 27% of cases. Fair concordance existed between original and panel recommendations (κ = 0.29, 0.15-0.44). The low rate of recurrence and lack of melanoma occurrence suggest that despite an atypical clinical and histopathologic appearance, these nevi have limited potential for malignant transformation. Histopathologic findings seem to be principal drivers behind the recommendation for excision in this analysis. Variability existed in treatment recommendations; the panel's consensus recommendation tended to downgrade treatment. This highlights the importance of further outcomes-based studies to identify true high-risk features and refine management guidelines.

Perceived community disability stigma in multicultural, low-income populations: Measure development and validation.

BACKGROUND: Stigma and knowledge about disabilities differ across groups, impacting care. No validated measures of perceived community disability stigma exist for families in multicultural communities, at risk for disparities. AIMS: Develop and validate a brief bilingual (i.e., English/Spanish) perceived disability stigma measure, compare perceived disability and autism stigma, and examine perceived disability stigma by parent sociodemographic characteristics and disability familiarity. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Secondary data from 522 parents with children ages 2-5 years were recruited from Oregon WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program agencies for a child development and disability survey in 2015. The study sample included items regarding disability familiarity and stigma, among the survey population, which was 50 % Latino. Internal consistency, reliability and structural validity were examined. Secondary data on perceived disability and similar autism stigma items were compared. Nested multivariable linear regression assessed associations of perceived disability stigma with sociodemographic characteristics and disability familiarity. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Five perceived disability stigma items had reasonable internal consistency and performed well in the confirmatory factor analysis. Perceived autism stigma was greater than perceived disability stigma. Latino parents reported less perceived disability stigma than white parents. Parents who knew 1+ individual(s) with a disability reported greater perceived disability stigma. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The perceived disability stigma scale demonstrated sound psychometric properties. Results suggest differences in how stigma is perceived across sociodemographic characteristics and disability familiarity.

Influence of Social Media on Cosmetic Procedure Interest.

BACKGROUND: Social media is increasingly cited as a contributing factor to the rising public interest in cosmetic procedures. By tracking online search interests, Google Trends (GT) can help quantify these trends. OBJECTIVES: We used GT (trends. google.com) to explore trends in online interest in cosmetic procedures and compare how effects differed by procedure type and their relation to medical specialty. METHODS: Google Trends search term data was collected and compared with annual Instagram and Facebook user counts. Linear regression evaluated search trends over time, and Pearson correlations were used to compare terms. A Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment for multiple comparisons resulted in significance set at p<0.02, except for comparisons between specialties, for which p<0.01 was significant. RESULTS: The terms dermatologist, Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, CoolSculpting, Kybella, and facelift are increasing in popularity, whereas the terms Restylane, liposuction, rhinoplasty and breast augmentation are decreasing in popularity (p<0.02). No change was observed for other terms. The terms dermatologist, Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, CoolSculpting and Kybella were associated with both Instagram and Facebook users, but blepharoplasty and rhinoplasty were only associated with Instagram users (p<0.01). Searches for Juvederm and facelift were only associated with the term dermatologist, and searches for Sculptra, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty were only associated with plastic surgeon (p<0.01). For all other search terms, significant correlations were seen with both specialties. CONCLUSION: Online interest in noninvasive cosmetic procedures is increasing, potentially driven, in part, by social media. Interest in dermatology is also increasing, creating a need for dermatologists to respond to these shifts in market trends.

Melanoma prognosis in the United States: Identifying barriers for improved care.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in melanoma mortality, disparities in melanoma survival persist. We evaluated possible sociodemographic and health care-based predictors of differences in melanoma survival in the United States by using the melanoma mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR). METHODS: State-based MIRs were calculated by using US cancer statistics data from 1999 to 2014. Pearson correlations and linear regressions were used to determine associations between MIR and dermatologist density, primary care provider density, number of physicians by state, number of National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers, health care spending per capita, average household income, racial/ethnic makeup of the population, percentage of uninsured individuals, and percentage with a bachelor's degree. RESULTS: The mean overall MIR was 0.15 ± 0.04; only Alaska was an outlier (0.24). No state MIRs increased significantly over time; MIR decreased for most states. Multivariable analysis revealed that states with more active physicians (P = .02) and a higher percentage non-Hispanic whites (P = .004) had higher MIRs (poorer survival). Significant Pearson correlations were seen between MIR and melanoma incidence (r = -0.72, P < .001), melanoma mortality (r = 0.38, P < .001), dermatologist density (r = 0.32, P < .001), and National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center count (r = -0.12, P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Melanoma survival is improved in higher-incidence areas and areas with higher dermatologist density. These findings highlight areas of poorer melanoma survival and the need for local studies evaluating disparities in melanoma survival.