Oral Presentation ANZBA Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Measuring the Social Impact of Burn injuries in Australia: An Adaptation of the Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation  (20651)

Liz Capell 1 2 , Lewis E Kazis 3 4 5 , Belinda J Gabbe 2 , Lincoln M Tracy 2 , Colleen M Ryan 6 7 , Mary D Slavin 3 4 5 , Yvonne Singer 8 , Tiffany Ryan 9 , Helen Scott 1 , Hannah M Bailey 10 , Ananya Vasudevan 11 , Pengsheng Ni 12 , Dale Edgar 9 13 14 15 16
  1. Alfred Health, Melbourne, VICTORIA, Australia
  2. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia, Melbourne
  3. Spaulding Rehab Hospital and Harvard Medical School , Boston
  4. MGB, Boston
  5. Boston University School of Public Health, Boston
  6. Dept of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
  7. Shriners Children’s, Boston, MA, USA
  8. Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
  9. State Adult Burn Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch, WA, Australia
  10. Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA
  11. Boston University Aram V. Chobanian and Edward Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
  12. Health Law, Policy & Management, Biostatistics & Epidemiology Data Analytic Center, Boston University – School of Public Health , Boston, MA
  13. Burn Injury Research Unit, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
  14. Fiona Wood Foundation, Murdoch, WA, Australia
  15. Burn Injury Research Node, The University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA, Australia
  16. Safety and Quality Unit, Armadale Kalamunda Group Health Service, East Metropolitan Health Service, Mt Nasura, WA, Australia

Introduction: Burn survivors can experience social participation challenges throughout their recovery. The aim of this study was to develop a novel Australian English translation of the Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Profile, the Aus-LIBRE Profile.   

Methods: This study consisted of three stages: 1) translation of the LIBRE Profile from American to Australian English by Australian researchers/burns clinicians; 2) piloting and cognitive evaluation of the Aus-LIBRE Profile with burn survivors to assess the clarity and consistency of the interpretation of each individual item, and 3) review of the Aus-LIBRE Profile by colleagues who identify as Aboriginal Australians for cross-cultural validation. In stage 2, investigators administered the translated questionnaire to 20 Australian patients with burn injuries in the outpatient clinic (10 patients from Victoria and 10 patients from Western Australia).         

Results: Face validity of the Aus-LIBRE Profile was tested in 20 burns survivors (11 females) ranging from 21 to 74 years (median age 43 years). The total body surface area (TBSA) burned ranged from 1% to 50% (median 10%). Twelve language changes were made based on the feedback from the burn clinicians/researchers, study participants and colleagues who identify as Aboriginal Australians. 

Conclusion: Using a formal translation process, the Aus-LIBRE Profile was adapted for use in the Australian burns population. The Aus-LIBRE Profile will require psychometric validation and testing in the Australian burn patient population before broader application of the scale.