Arabic Translation and Linguistic Validation of the SCAR-Q Scale Module

Scars are a fairly common complaint in the clinical setting; they can arise from trauma, burns, or after surgical procedures. They can have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of patients. A well-established method of quantifying such an impact is through patient-reported outcome measures (PROM). SCAR-Q is a relatively new and robust questionnaire that was developed and validated by McMaster University. Our study aims to translate SCAR-Q to Arabic. SCAR-Q has a holistic approach to scars and does not target scars of a specific etiology. It has three main components: scar appearance, psychological impact, and symptoms associated with the scar. This translation will enable data collection, analysis, and interpretation from a previously untouched demographic. This article explains the steps taken to develop an accurate and validated Arabic SCAR-Q questionnaire based on World Health Organization (WHO) and The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) guidelines. We were able to methodically produce a validated translation of the SCAR-Q into Arabic that should potentially allow data collection and feedback from a very large segment of the world population regarding the impact of scars on their quality of life.