Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors
Abstract Background Alopecia areata (AA) can have a significant impact on wellbeing. Consequently, individuals with AA often seek treatments or products to promote hair regrowth or camouflage their hair loss that incur a financial cost to the individual. Objectives The current study aimed to examine...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Skin Health and Disease |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.301 |
| _version_ | 1797336271603892224 |
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| author | Fabio Zucchelli Matthew Harries Andrew Messenger Kerry Montgomery |
| author_facet | Fabio Zucchelli Matthew Harries Andrew Messenger Kerry Montgomery |
| author_sort | Fabio Zucchelli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Alopecia areata (AA) can have a significant impact on wellbeing. Consequently, individuals with AA often seek treatments or products to promote hair regrowth or camouflage their hair loss that incur a financial cost to the individual. Objectives The current study aimed to examine the direct financial burden of AA to understand the wider impact of the condition and the factors which influence spending on products and services. Methods A total of 829 United Kingdom based participants completed an online survey. Demographic and condition‐specific data were collected, alongside spending on AA‐related products and services. Participants were asked about their use of products and services, the associated costs, how they financed these costs, and their household income to determine what percentage of income they spent on products and services. Results Participants predominantly identified as female (85.9%), white (92.7%) with a mean age of 42.7 years and a median AA duration of 10.94 years. Female gender, Asian ethnicity, lower income, and worse AA symptoms predicted higher spend from income. Wigs were the most common product used and incurred the greatest cost (median £700). The highest cost for men was private dermatology services (median = £550). On average people spent 3% of their disposable income (prior to housing costs) on AA‐related products and services. Conclusions This study outlines the risk factors associated with higher financial burden from managing AA which require consideration by health providers, commissioners, and policy makers when designing services to support the wellbeing of people living with AA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:51:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f618399ea89c4964b1a19267803da55a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2690-442X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:51:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Skin Health and Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-f618399ea89c4964b1a19267803da55a2024-02-01T09:32:21ZengWileySkin Health and Disease2690-442X2024-02-0141n/an/a10.1002/ski2.301Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictorsFabio Zucchelli0Matthew Harries1Andrew Messenger2Kerry Montgomery3Centre for Appearance Research University West of the England Bristol UKSalford Royal Hospital Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust Manchester Academic Health Science Centre Manchester UKUniversity of Sheffield Sheffield UKAlopecia UK Shipley UKAbstract Background Alopecia areata (AA) can have a significant impact on wellbeing. Consequently, individuals with AA often seek treatments or products to promote hair regrowth or camouflage their hair loss that incur a financial cost to the individual. Objectives The current study aimed to examine the direct financial burden of AA to understand the wider impact of the condition and the factors which influence spending on products and services. Methods A total of 829 United Kingdom based participants completed an online survey. Demographic and condition‐specific data were collected, alongside spending on AA‐related products and services. Participants were asked about their use of products and services, the associated costs, how they financed these costs, and their household income to determine what percentage of income they spent on products and services. Results Participants predominantly identified as female (85.9%), white (92.7%) with a mean age of 42.7 years and a median AA duration of 10.94 years. Female gender, Asian ethnicity, lower income, and worse AA symptoms predicted higher spend from income. Wigs were the most common product used and incurred the greatest cost (median £700). The highest cost for men was private dermatology services (median = £550). On average people spent 3% of their disposable income (prior to housing costs) on AA‐related products and services. Conclusions This study outlines the risk factors associated with higher financial burden from managing AA which require consideration by health providers, commissioners, and policy makers when designing services to support the wellbeing of people living with AA.https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.301 |
| spellingShingle | Fabio Zucchelli Matthew Harries Andrew Messenger Kerry Montgomery Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors Skin Health and Disease |
| title | Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| title_full | Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| title_fullStr | Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| title_short | Establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| title_sort | establishing the financial burden of alopecia areata and its predictors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ski2.301 |
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