Assessment of burn-specific health-related quality of life and patient scar status following burn. Oh Hyunjin,Boo Sunjoo Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries INTRODUCTION:This study assessed patient-perceived levels of scar assessment and burn-specific quality of life (QOL) in Korean burn patients admitted to burn care centers and identified differences in scar assessment and QOL based on various patient characteristics. METHODS:A cross-sectional descriptive study using anonymous paper-based survey methods was conducted with 100 burn patients from three burn centers specializing in burn care in South Korea. RESULTS:Mean subject age was 44.5 years old, and 69% of the subjects were men. The overall mean QOL was 2.91 out of 5. QOL was lowest for the work subdomain (2.25±1.45) followed by the treatment regimen subdomain (2.32±1.16). The subjects' mean total scar assessment score was 35.51 out of 60, and subjects were most unsatisfied with scar color. Subjects with low income, flame-source burns, severe burns, visible scars, and scars on face or hand reported significantly lower QOL. Subjects with severe burn degree and burn range perceived their burn scar condition to be worse than that of others. CONCLUSION:The results show that burn subjects experience the most difficulties with their work and the treatment regimen. Subjects with severe burn and visible scarring have a reduced QOL and a poor scar status. Scar management intervention may improve QOL of burn patients especially those with severe burn and visible scars. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the relationship between scar assessment and QOL. 10.1016/j.burns.2017.03.023

The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (child and young person version) for measuring health-related quality of life in children with burn scars: A longitudinal cohort study of reliability, validity and responsiveness. Simons M,Kimble R,McPhail S,Tyack Z Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries BACKGROUND:Clinical practice benefits from the measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) to reflect the impact of the disease and treatments from the patient's lived experience. The Brisbane Burn Scar Impact Profile (child and young person version, BBSIP), developed in 2013, is a self-report measure of burn scar-specific HRQoL. The purpose of the study was to test reliability, validity and responsiveness of this measure for an evaluative purpose. METHODS:Young people aged 8-18 years with burn scarring or at probable risk of burn scarring (defined as 14 days or longer to re-epithelialize) were included in a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Data was collected at a paediatric burn centre at baseline (when ≥85% of the total body surface area re- epithelialized), then 1-2 weeks and 1-month post-baseline. Participants completed measures of HRQoL (BBSIP, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory) and scar characteristics (Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale) at each time-point. RESULTS:Sixty-five participants completed the baseline testing. Forty-nine participants completed testing at 1-2 weeks post-baseline and thirty-two at 1-month post-baseline. Internal consistency of item groups ranged from Cronbach's α 0.60 (frequency of sensory symptoms) to 0.90 (emotional reactions). All item groups expected to be stable had acceptable test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.71-0.83), except 'mobility' and 'friendships and social interaction' (ICC = 0.52 and 0.45). Construct validity was supported with 10 of 13 (77%) hypothesised correlations of change in the BBSIP items corresponding with changes in external criterion measures. The responsiveness of 8 out of 10 item groups tested against an external criterion was supported (AUC = 0.71-0.92). CONCLUSION:The BBSIP has acceptable reliability, validity and responsiveness supporting its use as an evaluative self-report measure of burn scar-specific HRQoL in the early post-acute phase after burn injury. 10.1016/j.burns.2019.07.012