Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward disease management among alopecia areata patients

Abstract

Background: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition associated with significant psychosocial burden and inconsistent treatment outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of patients with alopecia areata regarding their disease management. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1, 2024, to April 1, 2024, at Xishan People’s Hospital in Wuxi and Children’s Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The survey utilized questionnaires to gather demographic data and assess KAP scores. Results: A total of 514 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 1.63 ± 3.32 out of 18, 25.17 ± 2.26 out of 40, and 22.93 ± 3.09 out of 25, respectively, indicating poor knowledge, moderate attitudes, and relatively proactive practices. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that attitude (OR = 1.435, 95% CI: [1.284–1.604], P < 0.001), anxiety (OR = 0.904, 95% CI: [0.833–0.982], P = 0.017), monthly household income of 2000–5000 yuan (OR = 0.044, 95% CI: [0.003–0.692], P = 0.026), duration of alopecia areata less than one year (OR = 81.062, 95% CI: [20.011-328.373], P < 0.001), and one to three years (OR = 145.863, 95% CI: [22.341–952.320], P < 0.001) were associated with proactive practice. Conclusion: Patients with alopecia areata demonstrated poor knowledge but maintained positive attitudes and engaged in proactive practices regarding their disease management. These findings underscore the importance of targeted interventions aimed at improving patient education and promoting effective self-management strategies for individuals with alopecia areata, thereby contributing to better disease outcomes and reduced psychosocial burden at the population level.