Psychometric validation of the CARe Burn Scale-Adult Form Finnish version

A burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) measure is needed to assess burn patients' specific health needs. The HRQL measure, the CARe Burn Scale, was previously translated into Finnish. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Finnish version of the CARe Burn Scale Adult form in burn patients.

Study participants were adults with deep second- or third-degree burn treated with skin grafting at the Helsinki Burn Centre between 2006 and 2017. The Finnish version of the CARe Burn Scale, background information form, and the generic HRQL instrument 15D were sent to potential participants. The CARe Burn Scale was completed twice to assess repeatability.

Altogether 194 previous burn patients participated in this study. 150 (77 %) of them also returned the retest questionnaire. 70.6 % (137) of the participants were male. The internal consistency of all scores was good to excellent (Cronbach's alpha 0.80-0.94). All 12 subscales of the CARe Burn Scale showed good or excellent reproducibility (ICC 0.73-0.92). The ceiling effect was present in all scores except for positive growth, in which the floor effect was proved.

The Finnish version of the CARe Burn Scale Adult version has now been psychometrically validated. The internal consistency and the reproducibility in the Scale ranged from good to excellent. The ceiling effect occurred in all but one score, so it needs to be further tested in patients with more recent burns.