Burn Specific Health Scale – Brief – Brazil and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in Burn Patients

Abstract

Abstract With better burn trauma survival rates, quality of life and functionality have become important outcomes in the evaluation of burn patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of burn survivors using the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief-Br and their function and health using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) in order to assess whether there is a correlation in the results obtained between the two instruments. A cross-sectional study with 80 burn patients who underwent outpatient follow-up was completed. Quality of life was assessed using the BSHS-B-Br, an instrument translated and validated in Brazilian Portuguese. Based on ICF category concepts, a data collection tool was used with “yes” and “no” answers. A “yes” answer represented the “8” qualifier, indicating a problem without a specific order of magnitude. Both instruments were self-applied in standardized conditions without complications during the process. Results were analyzed through Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. The BSHS-B-Br had an average score of 127.12 (SD ± 23.03). The correlation was moderate between the total BSHS-B-Br score and the answers of ICF for body functions (r = −.53; P < .001) and environmental factors (r = −.50; P < .001). It was weak for body structures (r = −.47; P < .001) and for activities and participation (r = −.43; P < .001). This study found a moderate correlation between the results of the Burn Specific Health Scale – Brief – Brazil and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for burn patients showing that both instruments provide complementary information about burned patients.