title: Establishing and prioritizing research questions for the treatment of alopecia areata: the Alopecia Areata Priority Setting Partnership.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alopecia areata (AA) is a common hair loss disorder that results in patchy to complete hair loss. Many uncertainties exist around the most effective treatments for this condition.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify uncertainties in AA management and treatment that are important to both service users (people with hair loss, carers and relatives) and healthcare professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  An AA priority setting partnership was established between patients, their carers and relatives, and healthcare professionals to identify the most important uncertainties in AA. The methodology of the James Lind Alliance was followed to ensure a balanced, inclusive and transparent process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 2747 treatment uncertainties were submitted by 912 participants, of which 1012 uncertainties relating to AA (and variants) were analysed. Questions were combined into 'indicative uncertainties' following a structured format. A series of ranking exercises further reduced this list to a top 25 that were taken to a final prioritization workshop where the top 10 priorities were agreed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present the top 10 research priorities for AA to guide researchers and funding bodies to support studies important to both patients and clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Colney Lane, Norwich, NR4 7UY, U.K.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Macbeth
authors.affiliation: Trustee, Alopecia U.K., Shipley, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tomlinson
authors.affiliation: Dermatology, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, U.K.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Messenger
authors.affiliation: Design, Manufacturing and Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moore-Millar
authors.affiliation: Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic, London, U.K.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michaelides
authors.affiliation: Warwick Hospital, Warwick, U.K.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Shipman
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, U.K.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kassim
authors.affiliation: Cannock Chase Hospital, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Cannock, U.K.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brockley
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Solihull Hospital, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Solihull, U.K.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Szczecinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, U.K.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Farrant
authors.affiliation: Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, Harrogate, U.K.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Patient Representative, Birmingham, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: Trustee, Alopecia U.K., Shipley, U.K.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: The James Lind Alliance, Oxford, U.K.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.affiliation: The Dermatology Centre, University of Manchester, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, U.K.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harries
mesh_terms: D000506:Alopecia Areata / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers; D006292:Health Priorities; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012106:Research