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The Importance of Psychometric and Physical Scales for the Evaluation of the Consequences of Scars—A Literature Review

Authors :
Gabriel Mihai Mekeres
Camelia Liana Buhaș
Andrei Nicolae Csep
Corina Beiușanu
Gineta Andreescu
Paula Marian
Cornel Dragoș Cheregi
Radu Fodor
Felicia Manole
Source :
Clinics and Practice, Vol 13, Iss 2, Pp 372-383 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Background: Scars affect patients after trauma, burns, or surgical procedures and can generate both physical and psychosocial changes. The aesthetic damage represents the modification of a person’s physical appearance, in its bodily integrity, causing numerous sufferings and determining social or economic consequences. The aim of this research is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages offered by the available psychosocial and physical scar scales in assessing the physical, aesthetic, psychosocial, and juridical consequences of scars. This will aid to inform medical examiners about the most valued existing scales to allow them to select the most appropriate instrument to manage their patient. Methods: A broad search of relevant scientific studies on the psychosocial determinants of post-traumatic and surgical scars was conducted by using the following international database tools: PsycINFO, MedLine Social Science Index, Scopus, Web of Science, published from 1960 until 2022. Results: We analyzed 63 scientific studies to assess the advantages and limits of several psychometric and physical scar evaluation scales. Conclusions: The researchers analyzed in this review highlight the advantages and limitation of existing instruments, evidencing the demand for future scar evaluation instruments and a scar-assessing algorithm that takes into account the physical, aesthetic, psychosocial, and legal consequences of scars.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20397283
Volume :
13
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Clinics and Practice
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.9091f4cd8ba14b4799b3bab78018fe33
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract13020034