Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38967663›Full record

SynthesisArchives of dermatological research2024

Skin color reporting in basal cell carcinoma-related randomized controlled trials in top dermatology journals: a systematic review.

Natasha L Salmen, Deven P Curtis, Anthony N Baumann, Jared Willets, Robert T Brodell

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Archives of dermatological research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Natasha L SalmenCollege of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 5150 Lower Elkton Rd. Leetonia, Rootstown, OH, 44431, USA. nsalmen@neomed.edu.
Deven P CurtisCollege of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 5150 Lower Elkton Rd. Leetonia, Rootstown, OH, 44431, USA.
Anthony N BaumannCollege of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 5150 Lower Elkton Rd. Leetonia, Rootstown, OH, 44431, USA.
Jared WilletsCollege of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 5150 Lower Elkton Rd. Leetonia, Rootstown, OH, 44431, USA.
Robert T BrodellUniversity of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi and JV "Sonny" Montgomery Veterans Hospital, Jackson, MS, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the rate skin color is reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving basal cell carcinoma (BCC) identification and treatment in the top ten dermatology journals.

methodsA systematic review was conducted of RCTs involving BCC among the top ten dermatology journals, determined by impact factor, from inception to July 11th, 2023. Studies were included if they reviewed the prevention, detection, and treatment of BCC, directly involved patients, and were classified as RCTs. Studies were classified as positive for reporting skin of color (SOC) if the demographic data in the methods or results included any of the following terms: Fitzpatrick scale, race, ethnicity, skin of color, or sunburn tendency.

resultsOf the 51 studies identified, only 23 articles reported data pertaining to skin color within the results section (45.1%); whereas 28 articles mentioned skin color somewhere within the text (54.9%). Subgroup analysis was performed, and no statistical significance was found for study location or year of publication.

conclusionDark skin color can make it more difficult to diagnose skin tumors and it is unknown if race affects response to treatment. Less than 50% of RCTs related to basal cell carcinoma in top international dermatology journals included skin color within the demographic portion of their results section pertaining to study participants. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that studies performed within the United States reported skin color less than half the time (40%). Additionally, there has been no statistically significant difference in reporting over the past 4 decades. Further research is necessary to determine whether low reporting rates of race/skin color in BCC-related RCTS could impact diagnostic or treatment recommendations for patient care in this group.

Indexed as

Basal Cell CarcinomaDermatologySkin NeoplasmsSkin PigmentationHumansJournal Impact FactorPeriodicals as TopicRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicBasal cell carcinomaFitzpatrick scaleRaceSkin of color

Identifiers

PMID38967663
PMCPMC11226525

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.