Validity of Self-Reported Male Balding Patterns in Epidemiological Studies

The study, involving 105 male volunteers aged between 30 and 70 years from Western Australia, assessed the validity of self-reported male balding patterns using the Hamilton-Norwood classification system. It found that while trained observers had a high reliability with 85% exact agreement (Kappa = 0.83), men's self-assessment was moderately accurate with 48-55% exact agreement (Kappa = 0.39-0.46) compared to trained observers. A substudy with photographs showed a 67% exact agreement between men and observers. The study concluded that men's self-assessment is adequate for epidemiological studies when trained personnel are not available, with older men and those with certain education levels being more accurate in self-assessments. Despite limitations like a small sample size and difficulties in assessing vertex balding from photographs, the study supports the use of self-assessment in linking balding patterns to health effects. The study was conducted by RT, JM, JL, and LF.