Validation of the Hebrew version of the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief questionnaire.

BACKGROUND

The Burns Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) questionnaire is a suitable measurement tool for the assessment of general, physical, mental, and social health aspects of the burn survivor.

AIM

To translate, culturally adapt and validate the BSHS-B to Hebrew (BSHS-H), and to investigate its psychometric properties.

METHODS

Eighty-six Hebrew speaking burn survivors filled out the BSHS-B and SF-36 questionnaires. Ten of them (11.63%) completed a retest. The psychometric properties of the scale were evaluated. Internal consistency, criterion validity, and construct validity were assessed using interclass correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha statistic, Spearman rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test respectively.

RESULTS

BSHS-H Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.97. Test-retest interclass coefficients were between 0.81 and 0.98. BSHS-H was able to discriminate between facial burns, hand burns and burns >10% body surface area (p<0.05). BSHS-H and SF-36 were positively correlated (r(2)=0.667, p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

BSHS-H is a reliable and valid instrument for use in the Israeli burn survivor population. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of this disease specific scale allows future comparative international studies.