Publication | Closed Access
The Vancouver Scar Scale: An Administration Tool and Its Interrater Reliability
746
Citations
0
References
1995
Year
Scar AppearanceSurgeryInjury PreventionDermatologyAesthetic SurgeryBurn Scar IndexBiostatisticsPublic HealthClinical EvaluationReliability AnalysisStatisticsReliabilityAdministration ToolOutcomes ResearchScar PreventionBurn ManagementBurn Scar PreventionPatient SafetyVancouver Scar ScaleWound HealingInterrater ReliabilityMedicine
The Vancouver Scar Scale is widely used to document scar changes, but its numeric scoring is difficult to remember. The authors developed a pocket‑sized tool to aid scoring and improve staff compliance with the Vancouver Scar Scale. The tool incorporates the equipment needed for several index sections, enabling accurate pocket‑sized scoring. Using the tool produced good interrater reliability, confirming the Burn Scar Index as a viable research measure.
The Burn Scar Index, often called the Vancouver Scar Scale, is widely used in clinical practice and research to document change in scar appearance. Several sections of the Index require equipment to accurately score the items. Additionally, the numeric scores are difficult to remember. We recently devised a pocket-sized tool to aid in scoring the scar and to increase staff compliance in use of the Index. With this tool interrater reliability is good, which makes the Burn Scar Index a viable measure for research.