Content Validity of Five Single-Item Instruments in Adolescents With Alopecia Areata

The study assessed the content validity of five single-item patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for adolescents with alopecia areata (AA), an autoimmune disease causing hair loss. These PROMs, which include assessments for scalp hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, nail appearance, and eye irritation, were previously validated in adults but not in adolescents. The study found that while these PROMs are brief and useful for tracking symptoms over time, they primarily capture objective symptoms and do not fully reflect the psychosocial burden experienced by adolescents with AA. The findings suggested that while the PROMs demonstrated content validity, they are limited in providing a comprehensive assessment of the disease's impact. Therefore, researchers and clinicians should carefully consider the purpose of data assessment and the target group when using these instruments.