The CARe Burn Scale—Adult Form: Identifying the Responsiveness and Minimal Important Difference (MID) Values of a Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) to Assess Quality of Life for Adults with a Burn Injury

Abstract

The CARe Burn Scales are a suite of burn-specific PROMs for adults, children, young people, and parents affected by burns. This study aimed to determine the responsiveness and minimal important difference (MID) values of the Adult Form for use in adult burn care and research. Participants were recruited by 11 UK Burn Services. They completed online or paper versions of the CARe Burn Scale –Adult Form and a set of appropriate comparison validated measures and anchor questions at baseline (T1, up to 4 weeks post-burn), 3 months (T2), and 6 months post-burn (T3). A total of 269 participants took part at baseline and 226 (84%) were retained at the 6-month follow-up. Spearman’s correlation analysis and effect sizes based on Cohen’s d thresholds were reported and MID values calculated. MID values were created for all subscales and ranged from 4–15. The CARe Burn Scale—Adult Form is responsive to change over time and can therefore be used to reliably inform the management of adults’ burn injury treatment and recovery. It is freely available for clinical and research use.