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 negative self-perception and has been the target of a number of therapeutic interventions. Despite the importance of self-perceptions of hair growth and appearance with such interventions, no standardized validated questionnaire 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 androgenetic alopecia in men. METHODS: Literature review and focus groups with men having androgenetic alopecia initially identified 28 potential questions. These questions were assessed in an observational study (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 in satisfaction with hair appearance (three questions), hair growth and appearance, size of the bald spot, and slowing of hair loss. Significant differences favoring active treatment over placebo were evident for all seven questions by 6 months in a clinical trial. CONCLUSIONS: This standardized questionnaire can be used to assess patient perceptions of hair growth in clinical trials of men with androgenetic alopecia.