Attitudes, behaviors, and expectations of men seeking medical treatment for male pattern hair loss: results of a multinational survey

Abstract

Objectives: 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.

Key words: :

• Androgenetic alopecia
• Body image
• Consumer research
• Health behavior
• Male pattern hair loss
• Patient expectations

Transparency

Declaration of funding

Funding for this research and manuscript was provided by Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

T.F.C has disclosed that, as an independent research consultant, he received a consulting fee from Merck for his work on this paper. Financial support was provided to Harris Interactive to develop and field the survey questionnaire and to tabulate the survey results. The author is currently under separate contract for a related research project sponsored by Merck.

All peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. Peer Reviewer 1 has disclosed that he/she has received grants from the Amgen Foundation. Peer Reviewer 2 has disclosed he/she has no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgment

The author thanks Jan S. Redfern, PhD, Redfern Strategic Medical Communications, Inc., Goshen, NY, USA for her assistance in preparing this manuscript for publication, which was funded by Merck & Co.