Attitudes, behaviors, and expectations of men seeking medical treatment for male pattern hair loss: results of a multinational survey.
OBJECTIVE
The study's objectives were to characterize the concerns and self-treating efforts of men seeking medical treatment for male pattern hair loss (MPHL) and to describe their expectations and actual experiences of a physician consultation.


METHODS
The online survey in six countries (United States, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, and Korea) involved 604 men (25-49 years old) self-identifying with MPHL.


RESULTS
Approximately 75% of the study's treatment-seeking men were concerned, very concerned, or extremely concerned about their hair loss; 96% were at least somewhat concerned. This high level of concern translated into multiple information-seeking actions (53.9% reported two or three actions; 24.6% reported four or five actions) and multiple self-treatments prior to physician consultation. Only 16% of the sample had not tried any treatment. Many treatment-motivated men with MPHL were uncomfortable (21%) or only moderately comfortable (37%) consulting with a physician and delayed this consultation. Factors motivating men with MPHL to consult a physician included a concern about worsening hair loss (82%), a desire to benefit from physicians' treatment expertise (85%) or physician-prescribed products (75%), and dissatisfaction with non-prescription products (73%). Expectations for the physician's treatment actions were met less often than was desired, resulting in dissatisfaction among one-fourth of the men. Dissatisfaction stemmed from lack of specific treatment recommendations (66%), unanswered questions (54%), and a perception that the doctor was uncomfortable or uninterested in discussing their hair loss (52%). Potential study limitations included self-identification of MPHL, reliance on respondents' recall, and a lack of verification of professed future physician consultations.


CONCLUSIONS
The typical man seeking MPHL treatment has significant concerns about the condition and has already engaged in considerable efforts to obtain information and to self-treat. Individualized consideration of attitudes, concerns, self-treating efforts, and expectations is crucial for effective management of men seeking medical treatment for MPHL.
Cash
Thomas F
TF
Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA. tcash@odu.edu
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001519:Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012923:Social Class; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology