The Scar Assessment Scale Study v01
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient experience of scar assessment scales for burns: A qualitative study v01
IRAS ID
274056
Contact name
Jonathan Mathers
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 2 days
Research summary
Scarring following burn injury can lead to a reduced quality of life, with physical deficits such as loss of movement as well as psychosocial consequences. It is crucial to assess scars routinely, to aid clinical decisions regarding management techniques and to monitor healing over time. This can be carried out through the use of burn scar assessment scales, which act as a checklist of characteristics to assess and score the scars, throughout the patient’s recovery.
Scar assessment scales are being used in routine clinical practice at the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB). This explorative study aims to recruit burns patients from this hospital and understand, through qualitative research, their experiences of scar assessment tools. Conducting one-to-one interviews will enable patient perspectives to be gained, to find out if the assessment scales capture their judgements of scar healing and reflect their psychological health.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0359
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion