Patient Satisfaction with Multidisciplinary Shared Medical Appointments for Alopecia Areata and Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia

The study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with multidisciplinary shared medical appointments (SMAs) for alopecia areata (AA) and frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). From October 2022 to March 2023, 23 patients attended two SMAs, which included dermatology counselling, lectures from a nutritionist, social worker, and information on hair loss camouflage. 18 patients completed a satisfaction survey, with an average overall rating of 9.3 out of 10. All patients found the information useful and would recommend SMAs for hair loss to friends. 83.3% of patients had a better understanding of how nutrition can affect their hair loss condition, 83.3% had a better understanding of ways to access mental healthcare, and 94.1% had a better understanding of ways to camouflage their hair loss. The majority felt comfortable in the group setting and felt they had enough privacy (88%) and personal attention (81%). The study concluded that the multidisciplinary SMA format resulted in high patient satisfaction and may be useful for other dermatologic conditions.