Principal Investigator:
Joel Fish, MD
The Hospital for Sick Children
Overview:
Beyond being just a permanent skin mark, a scar can influence quality of life, and alter a person’s view of themselves. However, healthcare providers often only assess a scar’s physical features. In children particularly, without probing, the true impact of scars may therefore go unrecognized. This project’s purpose is two-fold – firstly to complete validation of the SCAR-Q (a patientfocused scar-specific questionnaire), and secondly to evaluate the psychosocial impact of scars in children. Consented children
will complete the SCAR-Q before and after scar treatment. The scores will be used to determine the SCAR-Q’s responsiveness (its ability to measure change), and to quantify the psychosocial burden of scars. Ultimately, the SCAR-Q will allow better appreciation of patient feelings about their scars, while purposefully characterizing the psychosocial impact of scarring will inform clinical practice. Specifically, by understanding the mental, emotional, and social weight of scars, healthcare providers may
deliver improved patient-centered care.
Status:
This project was funded by a 2019 PeDRA Research Grant.