Ronda Farah - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ronda Farah

JAMA Dermatology

ImportanceDermatology is one of the least diverse specialties, while patients from minority racia... more ImportanceDermatology is one of the least diverse specialties, while patients from minority racial and ethnic groups and other underserved populations continue to face numerous dermatology-specific health and health care access disparities in the US.ObjectivesTo examine the demographic characteristics and intended career goals of graduating US allopathic medical students pursuing careers in dermatology compared with those pursuing other specialties and whether these differ by sex, race and ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis secondary analysis of a repeated cross-sectional study included 58 077 graduating allopathic medical students using data from the 2016 to 2019 Association of American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaires.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe proportion of female students, students from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine (URM), and sexual minority (SM) students pursuing dermatology vs pursuing other specialt...

CRC Press eBooks, Apr 28, 2023

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Mar 1, 2023

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

Alopecia areata (AA), with a disease incidence of 2% in the USA, is the most common immune-mediat... more Alopecia areata (AA), with a disease incidence of 2% in the USA, is the most common immune-mediated cause of hair loss in the world. There were no FDA approved treatments for AA in the past. All treatment modalities used alone or in combination with each other, were prescribed off label. The JAK inhibitor baricitinib was approved by the FDA in June 2022. While it's a significant leap forward, we are still missing the safety profile data in multiple areas. Topical JAK inhibitors are being tested along with sublingual options including tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, and ritlecitinib. In this review, we discuss the JAK inhibitor baricitinib in detail, along with its dosing regimen, challenges presented in the clinic, missing data, and what the future may hold.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune‐mediated hair loss disease for which targeted immune treatments... more Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune‐mediated hair loss disease for which targeted immune treatments including Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, for example, tofacitinib, are emerging. More literature is needed on the safety and efficacy of JAK inhibitors, and treatment has the potential to be cost prohibitive. This study was conducted to measure safety and efficacy outcomes of off‐label use of tofacitinib in AA. A secondary outcome was analysis of payment methods. We reviewed 35 AA patients treated with tofacitinib in a specialty hair disease clinic between January 2013 and July 2019 for outcomes, adverse events, and feasibility of treatment. No serious adverse events were experienced. 83.9% of patients experienced clinically significant scalp regrowth, and 32.3% experienced near total/total regrowth. Though this study was confined to retrospective analysis, the results showed that tofacitinib was safe, effective, and practical for this cohort of 35 AA patients.

Family medicine, 2021

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a key component in the prima... more BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a key component in the primary care of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people. However, physicians are hesitant to initiate GAHT, citing a lack of knowledge. We developed an educational program for medical students and sought to investigate whether medical students' comfort and familiarity with GAHT could increase after a short interactive program. METHODS Second-year medical students (N=54) at the University of Minnesota were recruited to attend an hour long interactive lecture on GAHT. We calculated mean change in pre- and postintervention 5-point Likert scale scores from a survey assessing comfort and familiarity with key concepts of GAHT to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS Mean response score change increased significantly after the intervention around the use of chosen names (0.4±0.13, P<.017), the use of informed consent to initiate GAHT (1.8±0.20, P<.001), initiatin...

Dermatologic Surgery, 2020

Functional Limitation Caused by Traumatic and Burn Scars Traumatic and burn scars can result in s... more Functional Limitation Caused by Traumatic and Burn Scars Traumatic and burn scars can result in severe physical and psychological consequences such as life-altering disfigurement, functional restriction, and overall decreased quality of life. Disfiguring scars are associated with anxiety and depressed mood. 1,2 The incidence of hypertrophic scars 2 years after traumatic burn is up to 80.1%. 3 Traumatic scarring across joints can reduce range of motion, limiting activities of daily living, with contractures and skin tightening involving the hand in 48.5% of burns and mouth in 13.7%, as reported in the Burn Model System National Database. 3 Given these consequences, the use of energy-based devices to treat functionally limiting scars is a pivotal medical advancement.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in Dermatologic Practice, 2021

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Dermatologic Surgery, 2021

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. BACKGROUND Skin cancer continues to be the... more Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. BACKGROUND Skin cancer continues to be the most common cancer in the United States. The rise of social media platforms and internet use offers an opportunity to present health information through video-based education. The video “Dear 16-Year-OldMe,” addresses the risks associated with tanning and sun exposure, the importance of practicing sun protection, and shares stories from melanoma survivors. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the video “Dear 16-Year-Old Me,” as a patient education tool in dermatology clinics and to investigate whether viewing a short educational video can change knowledge about skin cancer risks and intention to improve skin cancer prevention behavior. PATIENTS AND METHODS/MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS English-speaking clinic patients between the ages of 14 to 45 years old were recruited. Exclusion criteria include both a personal or family history of skin cancer, dysplastic nevi, or other medical comorbidities. Forty-five participants agreed to participate; 38 were eligible for analysis. RESULTS Comparison of prevideo and postvideo responses demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in participants reporting they were likely to tan outdoors (p-value = .001). A significant increase was observed in the reported likelihood to have a professional skin examination (p-value < .001) or self-examination (p-value < .001) in the future. CONCLUSION and Relevance: Viewing “Dear 16-Year-Old Me,” resulted in reported participant changes in intention to tan outdoors and participate in skin surveillance. Although these are encouraging results, future studies with a comparison group are needed to elucidate whether these results correspond to changes in behavior. In the age of viral videos and readily accessible health information via the internet, continued investigation of video media on patient health behaviors should be pursued.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

Since the initial Food and Drug Administration clearance of the first photobiomodulation device f... more Since the initial Food and Drug Administration clearance of the first photobiomodulation device for androgenetic alopecia in 2007, the market for these devices has rapidly expanded. Sixteen unique devices are currently available to consumers with varying designs, treatment durations and frequency. While the precise mechanism for hair growth stimulation remains to be elucidated, current evidence suggests the laser light alters hair cycle duration to promote the anagen growth phase. Photobiomodulation devices have an excellent safety profile with pruritus and skin dryness reported to be the most common side effects. Overall, research has demonstrated clinical efficacy of these devices, including randomized controlled studies. As photobiomodulation continues to emerge as a treatment modality for androgenetic alopecia, additional information on the most effective light sources, precise light wavelength, treatment schedule, and effectiveness on various hair diseases is still needed.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Sustainable Development Goals Series

Annals of Surgical Oncology

Background. Telemedicine was adopted to minimize exposure risks for patients and staff during the... more Background. Telemedicine was adopted to minimize exposure risks for patients and staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study measured patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability in breast cancer care. Methods. Adult breast cancer patients who had a telemedicine visit at a single academic institution (with surgical, radiation, or medical oncology) from 15 June 2020 to 4 September 2020 were surveyed anonymously. Patient and cancer characteristics were collected, and patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability were assessed using a modified Telehealth Usability Questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale. Associations of satisfaction and usability with patient characteristics were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results. Of 203 patients who agreed to be contacted, 78 responded, yielding a response rate of 38%. The median age of the respondents was 63 years (range 25-83 years). The majority lived in an urban area (61%), were white (92%), and saw a medical oncologist (62%). The median patient satisfaction score was 5.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.25-6.25). The median telemedicine usability score was 5.6 (IQR 4.4-6.2). A strong positive correlation was seen between satisfaction and usability, with a Spearman correlation coefficient (q) of 0.80 (p \ 0.001). Satisfaction and usability scores did not vary significantly according to patient age, race, location of residence, insurance status, previous visit commute time, oncology specialty seen, prior telemedicine visits, or whether patients were actively receiving cancer treatment. Conclusions. Breast cancer patients were satisfied with telemedicine and found it usable. Patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability should not limit the use of telemedicine in future post-pandemic breast cancer care. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has prompted health systems to rethink how health care can be delivered in a safe and effective way. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission between patients, physicians, and nonphysician providers, many health systems have rapidly expanded their use of telemedicine. 1-3 Policy changes have further supported this transition in care delivery, namely, relaxation of technology requirements for virtual communication platforms, temporary expansion of recommended telemedicine use cases, and ability of health systems to bill telemedicine services as if they were performed in person. 4,5 Accompanying this temporary expansion in virtual care has been a surge in the literature critically assessing the long-term utility of telemedicine within various care disciplines and patient populations. 6-11 The use of telemedicine in oncologic care is of particular interest for two primary reasons. First, patients with cancer often are immunocompromised from their cancer or the treatments they receive, such as chemotherapy or

Journal of Hospital Administration

Objective: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a shortage of personal protectiv... more Objective: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) early in the pandemic. Healthcare systems asked for public donations of PPE and established community drop-off sites. Herein, we aim to profile community PPE donors at one large academic medical center including evaluation of donor industry, public messaging, and psychosocial aspects of donation.Methods: A survey was created and distributed to donors at two urban PPE drop-off sites between March and April 2020. Targeted donors and drop-off sites were located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (approximate population of 3.5 million people).Results: A total of 486 surveys were completed. Nearly half (47.3%) of PPE donated was initially intended for personal use. Donors primarily learned of PPE collection efforts through word of mouth (23.2%) and social media (22.7%). The most frequently reported barrier to donation included distance between donors and drop off sites or ...

International Journal of Women's Dermatology

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

JAMA Dermatology

ImportanceDermatology is one of the least diverse specialties, while patients from minority racia... more ImportanceDermatology is one of the least diverse specialties, while patients from minority racial and ethnic groups and other underserved populations continue to face numerous dermatology-specific health and health care access disparities in the US.ObjectivesTo examine the demographic characteristics and intended career goals of graduating US allopathic medical students pursuing careers in dermatology compared with those pursuing other specialties and whether these differ by sex, race and ethnicity, and/or sexual orientation.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis secondary analysis of a repeated cross-sectional study included 58 077 graduating allopathic medical students using data from the 2016 to 2019 Association of American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaires.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe proportion of female students, students from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine (URM), and sexual minority (SM) students pursuing dermatology vs pursuing other specialt...

CRC Press eBooks, Apr 28, 2023

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Mar 1, 2023

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery

Alopecia areata (AA), with a disease incidence of 2% in the USA, is the most common immune-mediat... more Alopecia areata (AA), with a disease incidence of 2% in the USA, is the most common immune-mediated cause of hair loss in the world. There were no FDA approved treatments for AA in the past. All treatment modalities used alone or in combination with each other, were prescribed off label. The JAK inhibitor baricitinib was approved by the FDA in June 2022. While it's a significant leap forward, we are still missing the safety profile data in multiple areas. Topical JAK inhibitors are being tested along with sublingual options including tofacitinib, ruxolitinib, and ritlecitinib. In this review, we discuss the JAK inhibitor baricitinib in detail, along with its dosing regimen, challenges presented in the clinic, missing data, and what the future may hold.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune‐mediated hair loss disease for which targeted immune treatments... more Alopecia areata (AA) is an immune‐mediated hair loss disease for which targeted immune treatments including Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, for example, tofacitinib, are emerging. More literature is needed on the safety and efficacy of JAK inhibitors, and treatment has the potential to be cost prohibitive. This study was conducted to measure safety and efficacy outcomes of off‐label use of tofacitinib in AA. A secondary outcome was analysis of payment methods. We reviewed 35 AA patients treated with tofacitinib in a specialty hair disease clinic between January 2013 and July 2019 for outcomes, adverse events, and feasibility of treatment. No serious adverse events were experienced. 83.9% of patients experienced clinically significant scalp regrowth, and 32.3% experienced near total/total regrowth. Though this study was confined to retrospective analysis, the results showed that tofacitinib was safe, effective, and practical for this cohort of 35 AA patients.

Family medicine, 2021

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a key component in the prima... more BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a key component in the primary care of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people. However, physicians are hesitant to initiate GAHT, citing a lack of knowledge. We developed an educational program for medical students and sought to investigate whether medical students' comfort and familiarity with GAHT could increase after a short interactive program. METHODS Second-year medical students (N=54) at the University of Minnesota were recruited to attend an hour long interactive lecture on GAHT. We calculated mean change in pre- and postintervention 5-point Likert scale scores from a survey assessing comfort and familiarity with key concepts of GAHT to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. RESULTS Mean response score change increased significantly after the intervention around the use of chosen names (0.4±0.13, P<.017), the use of informed consent to initiate GAHT (1.8±0.20, P<.001), initiatin...

Dermatologic Surgery, 2020

Functional Limitation Caused by Traumatic and Burn Scars Traumatic and burn scars can result in s... more Functional Limitation Caused by Traumatic and Burn Scars Traumatic and burn scars can result in severe physical and psychological consequences such as life-altering disfigurement, functional restriction, and overall decreased quality of life. Disfiguring scars are associated with anxiety and depressed mood. 1,2 The incidence of hypertrophic scars 2 years after traumatic burn is up to 80.1%. 3 Traumatic scarring across joints can reduce range of motion, limiting activities of daily living, with contractures and skin tightening involving the hand in 48.5% of burns and mouth in 13.7%, as reported in the Burn Model System National Database. 3 Given these consequences, the use of energy-based devices to treat functionally limiting scars is a pivotal medical advancement.

Platelet-Rich Plasma in Dermatologic Practice, 2021

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Dermatologic Surgery, 2021

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. BACKGROUND Skin cancer continues to be the... more Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. BACKGROUND Skin cancer continues to be the most common cancer in the United States. The rise of social media platforms and internet use offers an opportunity to present health information through video-based education. The video “Dear 16-Year-OldMe,” addresses the risks associated with tanning and sun exposure, the importance of practicing sun protection, and shares stories from melanoma survivors. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the video “Dear 16-Year-Old Me,” as a patient education tool in dermatology clinics and to investigate whether viewing a short educational video can change knowledge about skin cancer risks and intention to improve skin cancer prevention behavior. PATIENTS AND METHODS/MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS English-speaking clinic patients between the ages of 14 to 45 years old were recruited. Exclusion criteria include both a personal or family history of skin cancer, dysplastic nevi, or other medical comorbidities. Forty-five participants agreed to participate; 38 were eligible for analysis. RESULTS Comparison of prevideo and postvideo responses demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in participants reporting they were likely to tan outdoors (p-value = .001). A significant increase was observed in the reported likelihood to have a professional skin examination (p-value < .001) or self-examination (p-value < .001) in the future. CONCLUSION and Relevance: Viewing “Dear 16-Year-Old Me,” resulted in reported participant changes in intention to tan outdoors and participate in skin surveillance. Although these are encouraging results, future studies with a comparison group are needed to elucidate whether these results correspond to changes in behavior. In the age of viral videos and readily accessible health information via the internet, continued investigation of video media on patient health behaviors should be pursued.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

Since the initial Food and Drug Administration clearance of the first photobiomodulation device f... more Since the initial Food and Drug Administration clearance of the first photobiomodulation device for androgenetic alopecia in 2007, the market for these devices has rapidly expanded. Sixteen unique devices are currently available to consumers with varying designs, treatment durations and frequency. While the precise mechanism for hair growth stimulation remains to be elucidated, current evidence suggests the laser light alters hair cycle duration to promote the anagen growth phase. Photobiomodulation devices have an excellent safety profile with pruritus and skin dryness reported to be the most common side effects. Overall, research has demonstrated clinical efficacy of these devices, including randomized controlled studies. As photobiomodulation continues to emerge as a treatment modality for androgenetic alopecia, additional information on the most effective light sources, precise light wavelength, treatment schedule, and effectiveness on various hair diseases is still needed.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Sustainable Development Goals Series

Annals of Surgical Oncology

Background. Telemedicine was adopted to minimize exposure risks for patients and staff during the... more Background. Telemedicine was adopted to minimize exposure risks for patients and staff during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study measured patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability in breast cancer care. Methods. Adult breast cancer patients who had a telemedicine visit at a single academic institution (with surgical, radiation, or medical oncology) from 15 June 2020 to 4 September 2020 were surveyed anonymously. Patient and cancer characteristics were collected, and patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability were assessed using a modified Telehealth Usability Questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale. Associations of satisfaction and usability with patient characteristics were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results. Of 203 patients who agreed to be contacted, 78 responded, yielding a response rate of 38%. The median age of the respondents was 63 years (range 25-83 years). The majority lived in an urban area (61%), were white (92%), and saw a medical oncologist (62%). The median patient satisfaction score was 5.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 4.25-6.25). The median telemedicine usability score was 5.6 (IQR 4.4-6.2). A strong positive correlation was seen between satisfaction and usability, with a Spearman correlation coefficient (q) of 0.80 (p \ 0.001). Satisfaction and usability scores did not vary significantly according to patient age, race, location of residence, insurance status, previous visit commute time, oncology specialty seen, prior telemedicine visits, or whether patients were actively receiving cancer treatment. Conclusions. Breast cancer patients were satisfied with telemedicine and found it usable. Patient satisfaction and telemedicine usability should not limit the use of telemedicine in future post-pandemic breast cancer care. Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has prompted health systems to rethink how health care can be delivered in a safe and effective way. To mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission between patients, physicians, and nonphysician providers, many health systems have rapidly expanded their use of telemedicine. 1-3 Policy changes have further supported this transition in care delivery, namely, relaxation of technology requirements for virtual communication platforms, temporary expansion of recommended telemedicine use cases, and ability of health systems to bill telemedicine services as if they were performed in person. 4,5 Accompanying this temporary expansion in virtual care has been a surge in the literature critically assessing the long-term utility of telemedicine within various care disciplines and patient populations. 6-11 The use of telemedicine in oncologic care is of particular interest for two primary reasons. First, patients with cancer often are immunocompromised from their cancer or the treatments they receive, such as chemotherapy or

Journal of Hospital Administration

Objective: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a shortage of personal protectiv... more Objective: The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) early in the pandemic. Healthcare systems asked for public donations of PPE and established community drop-off sites. Herein, we aim to profile community PPE donors at one large academic medical center including evaluation of donor industry, public messaging, and psychosocial aspects of donation.Methods: A survey was created and distributed to donors at two urban PPE drop-off sites between March and April 2020. Targeted donors and drop-off sites were located in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (approximate population of 3.5 million people).Results: A total of 486 surveys were completed. Nearly half (47.3%) of PPE donated was initially intended for personal use. Donors primarily learned of PPE collection efforts through word of mouth (23.2%) and social media (22.7%). The most frequently reported barrier to donation included distance between donors and drop off sites or ...

International Journal of Women's Dermatology

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology