Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have investigated the association between male pattern baldness and disease such as prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. Limitations in the lack of standardized instruments to measure male pattern baldness have...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Leavy Justine E, Matassa Julia, Taylor Rosalind, Fritschi Lin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2004-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/4/60
_version_ 1818491702985359360
author Leavy Justine E
Matassa Julia
Taylor Rosalind
Fritschi Lin
author_facet Leavy Justine E
Matassa Julia
Taylor Rosalind
Fritschi Lin
author_sort Leavy Justine E
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have investigated the association between male pattern baldness and disease such as prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. Limitations in the lack of standardized instruments to measure male pattern baldness have resulted in researchers measuring balding patterns in a variety of ways. This paper examines the accuracy and reliability of assessment of balding patterns by both trained observers and men themselves, using the Hamilton-Norwood classification system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational study was carried out in Western Australia with 105 male volunteers aged between 30 and 70 years. Participants completed a short questionnaire and selected a picture that best represented their balding pattern. Two trained data collectors also independently assessed the participant's balding pattern using the same system and the men's self assessment was compared with the trained observer's assessment. In a substudy, observers assessed the balding pattern in a photo of the man aged 35 years while the man independently rated his balding at that age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Observers were very reliable in their assessment of balding pattern (85% exact agreement, κ = 0.83). Compared to trained observers, men were moderately accurate in their self-assessment of their balding status (48–55% exact agreement, κ = 0.39–0.46). For the substudy the exact agreement between the men and the observers was 67% and the agreement within balding groups was 87%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We recommend that male balding patterns be assessed by trained personnel using the Hamilton-Norwood classification system. Where the use of trained personnel is not feasible, men's self assessment both currently and retrospectively has been shown to be adequate.</p>
first_indexed 2024-12-10T17:34:27Z
format Article
id doaj.art-09d80ddabb1f4427aea8777bfaaf6ff5
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2458
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-10T17:34:27Z
publishDate 2004-12-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj.art-09d80ddabb1f4427aea8777bfaaf6ff52022-12-22T01:39:34ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582004-12-01416010.1186/1471-2458-4-60Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studiesLeavy Justine EMatassa JuliaTaylor RosalindFritschi Lin<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have investigated the association between male pattern baldness and disease such as prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. Limitations in the lack of standardized instruments to measure male pattern baldness have resulted in researchers measuring balding patterns in a variety of ways. This paper examines the accuracy and reliability of assessment of balding patterns by both trained observers and men themselves, using the Hamilton-Norwood classification system.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An observational study was carried out in Western Australia with 105 male volunteers aged between 30 and 70 years. Participants completed a short questionnaire and selected a picture that best represented their balding pattern. Two trained data collectors also independently assessed the participant's balding pattern using the same system and the men's self assessment was compared with the trained observer's assessment. In a substudy, observers assessed the balding pattern in a photo of the man aged 35 years while the man independently rated his balding at that age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Observers were very reliable in their assessment of balding pattern (85% exact agreement, κ = 0.83). Compared to trained observers, men were moderately accurate in their self-assessment of their balding status (48–55% exact agreement, κ = 0.39–0.46). For the substudy the exact agreement between the men and the observers was 67% and the agreement within balding groups was 87%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We recommend that male balding patterns be assessed by trained personnel using the Hamilton-Norwood classification system. Where the use of trained personnel is not feasible, men's self assessment both currently and retrospectively has been shown to be adequate.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/4/60
spellingShingle Leavy Justine E
Matassa Julia
Taylor Rosalind
Fritschi Lin
Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
BMC Public Health
title Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
title_full Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
title_fullStr Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
title_full_unstemmed Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
title_short Validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
title_sort validity of self reported male balding patterns in epidemiological studies
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/4/60
work_keys_str_mv AT leavyjustinee validityofselfreportedmalebaldingpatternsinepidemiologicalstudies
AT matassajulia validityofselfreportedmalebaldingpatternsinepidemiologicalstudies
AT taylorrosalind validityofselfreportedmalebaldingpatternsinepidemiologicalstudies
AT fritschilin validityofselfreportedmalebaldingpatternsinepidemiologicalstudies