title: Burn therapists' opinion on the application and essential characteristics of a burn scar outcome measure.
abstract: Comprehensive burn rehabilitation requires the use of an appropriate burn scar outcome measure (BSOM). The literature reports many BSOMs; however, an objective, practical, inexpensive, valid, reliable, and responsive instrument eludes us. A problem in the development of such a measure is disagreement in which scar properties to include. The objective of this study was to determine the burn scar variables that therapists believe should be included in a BSOM. An Internet survey was administered to burn occupational and physical therapists. The response rate was 38.6% (105 surveys). Of the respondents, 38.1% use a BSOM; of those, 75% use the Vancouver Scar Scale. Reasons why respondents do not use a BSOM (61.9%) are because they are not familiar with available measures, have not found one that is clinically practical, or need more training. The majority (95%) believes that using a BSOM is important, and the following BSOM characteristics were reported as important: reliable, valid, quick, easy, and noninvasive. Respondents indicated that the following properties should be included in a BSOM: pliability (96.2%), vascularity (92.4%), height (87.6%), appearance (75.2%), skin breakdown (74.3%), itch (73.3%), surface texture (70.5%), pigmentation (68.6%), and pain (67.6%). This study suggests that using a BSOM is important despite its inconsistent use, and BSOM education may be valuable. The top three agreed-upon properties for inclusion are already incorporated into the most commonly used BSOM-the Vancouver Scar Scale-suggesting that modifications may be reasonable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forbes-Duchart
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Bernadette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nedelec
authors.forename: Lonny
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quanbury
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires