A HAIR-GROWTH QUESTIONNAIRE FOR USE IN THE EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS IN MEN

BACKGROUND: Male-pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) is a common clinical condition in adult men that is often associated with negativ e self-perception and has been the target of a number of therapeutic i nterventions. Despite the importance of self-perceptions of hair growt h and appearance with such interventions, no standardized validated qu estionnaire exists for use in clinical trials. OBJECTIVE: Develop and evaluate a questionnaire to measure patient-perceived changes in hair growth and appearance in clinical trials of medical intervention for a ndrogenetic alopecia in men. METHODS: Literature review and focus grou ps with men having androgenetic alopecia initially identified 28 poten tial questions. These questions were assessed in an observational stud y (n = 204) and a placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 181). RESULTS : The final questionnaire contained seven global questions addressing change since the start of the study ill satisfaction with hair appeara nce (three questions), hair growth and appearance, size of the bald sp ot, and slowing of hair loss. Significant differences favoring active treatment over placebo were evident for all seven questions by 6 month s in a clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS: This standardized questionnaire ca n be used to assess patient perceptions of hair growth in clinical tri als of men with androgenetic alopecia.