The Development and Validity of the Adult Burn Outcome Questionnaire Short Form

Evaluation of patient-reported outcome measures in burn-specific tools: A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are now well-established tools to evaluate the quality of patient-centred care. Due to the multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary nature of the practice of burn care, as well as the range of significant potential sequelae, PROM's should form a fundamental component of burn quality improvement programs. We aim to 1. Explore biological, psychological, and social considerations that are currently listed in burn-specific PROM tools, as well as their efficacy, 2. Evaluate biological, psychological, and social factors that are considered in new burn-specific PROM tools or those under development, and 3. Identify any opportunities with respect to burn-specific PROM tools, in order to inform future investigation in this area.

METHODS

A search was performed of MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases. Two independent reviewers screened article titles/abstracts and then the full texts using Covidence. All studies were graded independently according to the Quality Rating Scheme for Studies and Other Evidences.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 552 references. Based on ab initio inclusion and exclusion criteria, 133 full-text studies were assessed for eligibility, and 21 articles were ultimately included in the systematic review. Due to study heterogeneity, a qualitative synthesis was conducted. Existing burn-specific PROMs covered a range of biological, psychological, and social factors affecting adult and paediatric patients with burn injury, but several studies required additional PROMs for a thorough evaluation. Burn-specific PROM tools under development are poised to fill this deficit.

CONCLUSION

Major burn injuries are a unique form of trauma, requiring coordinated management that considers numerous factors not relevant to other patient populations. Further research is necessary to validate existing burn-specific PROM tools and to develop more comprehensive burn-specific PROM measures that more comprehensively incorporate the bio-psycho-social model of health.

Item Pool Development for the School-Aged Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Profile Computerized Adaptive Test: An Observer-Reported Outcome Assessment Measuring the Impact of Burn Injuries in School-Aged Children

The transition from early childhood to teen years (5-12) is a critical time of development, which can be made particularly challenging by a burn injury. Assessing postburn recovery during these years is important for improving pediatric survivors' development and health outcomes. Few validated burn-specific measures exist for this age group. The purpose of this study was to generate item pools that will be used to create a future computerized adaptive test (CAT) assessing postburn recovery in school-aged children. Item pool development was guided by the previously developed School-Aged Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (SA-LIBRE5-12) conceptual framework. The item pool development process involved a systematic literature review, extraction of candidate items from existing legacy measures, iterative item review during expert consensus meetings, and parent cognitive interviews. The iterative item review with experts consisted of six rounds. A total of 10 parent cognitive interviews were conducted. The three broad themes of concern were items that needed 1) clarification, needed context, or were vague, 2) age dependence and relevance, and 3) word choice. The cognitive interviews indicated that survey instructions, recall period, item stem, and response choices were interpretable by respondents. Final item pool based on parental feedback consists of 57, 81, and 60 items in physical, psychological, and family and social functioning, respectively. Developed item pools (n = 198) in three domains are consistent with the existing conceptual framework. The next step involves field testing the item pool and calibration using item response theory to develop and validate the SA-LIBRE5-12 CAT Profile.

The CARe Burn Scale-Adult Form: Identifying the Responsiveness and Minimal Important Difference (MID) Values of a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) to Assess Quality of Life for Adults with a Burn Injury

The CARe Burn Scales are a suite of burn-specific PROMs for adults, children, young people, and parents affected by burns. This study aimed to determine the responsiveness and minimal important difference (MID) values of the Adult Form for use in adult burn care and research. Participants were recruited by 11 UK Burn Services. They completed online or paper versions of the CARe Burn Scale -Adult Form and a set of appropriate comparison validated measures and anchor questions at baseline (T1, up to 4 weeks post-burn), 3 months (T2), and 6 months post-burn (T3). A total of 269 participants took part at baseline and 226 (84%) were retained at the 6-month follow-up. Spearman's correlation analysis and effect sizes based on Cohen's d thresholds were reported and MID values calculated. MID values were created for all subscales and ranged from 4-15. The CARe Burn Scale-Adult Form is responsive to change over time and can therefore be used to reliably inform the management of adults' burn injury treatment and recovery. It is freely available for clinical and research use.

Measuring the impact of burn injury on the parent-reported health outcomes of children 1-to-5 years: Item pool development for the Preschool1-5 Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Profile

Modern, reliable, and valid outcome measures are essential to understanding the health needs of young children with burn injuries. Burn-specific and age-appropriate legacy assessment tools exist for this population but are hindered by the limitations of existing paper-based instruments. The purpose of this study was to develop item pools comprised of questions appropriate for children aged 1-5 with burn injuries. Item development was based on a framework provided by previous work to develop the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Conceptual Model. The Preschool LIBRE Conceptual Model work established four sub-domains of functioning for children with burns aged 1-5. Item development involved a systematic literature review, a qualitative item review process with clinical experts, and parent cognitive interviews. Four item pools were established: (1) communication and language development; (2) physical functioning; (3) psychological functioning and (4) social functioning for preschool-aged children with burn injuries. We selected and refined candidate items, recall periods, survey instructions, and response option choices through clinical and parental feedback during the qualitative review and cognitive interview processes. Item pools are currently being field-tested as part of the process to calibrate and validate the Preschool1-5 LIBRE Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) Profile.

Personality, Success, and Beyond: The Layperson's Perception of Patients With Facial Transplantation

BACKGROUND

While the goal of facial vascularized composite allotransplantation (FVCA) is to provide patients with improved physical and social function, no study has evaluated layperson perception of social acceptance and perceived career success of patients with FVCA. The purpose of this study was to determine how FVCA changes social acceptance and perceived career success of patients with facial disfiguration.

METHODS

Eight hundred fifteen laypersons were surveyed through Mechanical Turk to evaluate their perceptions of patients with FVCA. Respondents were shown facial photographs of patients pre-FVCA, post-FVCA, and matched controls and evaluated these photos on 26 items of perceived social acceptance and career success. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

Both male and female post-FVCA photos were perceived as significantly more socially accepted and professionally successful than their pre-FVCA photos in at least 21 out of 26 items (P < 0.001 for all), but the posttransplant patients scored lower than their control in at least 25 out of 26 items (P < 0.001 for all). Additionally, there were discrepancies in findings based on patient gender.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that while FVCA has a significantly positive impact on social acceptance and perceived professional success, it does not fully reinstate these qualities. Furthermore, varying surgical outcomes and/or cognitive biases (such as gender) may impact perceptions of the individual by the public. Our findings suggest a need to standardize practices to better predict and improve outcomes and encourage surgeons to consider patient factors such as gender when planning these procedures.