Validation of the Arabic Version of Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief: A Psychometric Analysis

BACKGROUND: The Burn Specific Health Scale Brief (BSHS-B) is the only specific, standardized, multidimensional tool designed precisely to measure health-related quality of life(HRQoL) after burns. It is translated into many different languages and is used worldwide. Till now, the Arabic version is not offered. The current study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the BSHS-B into Arabic (BSHS-B-AR). METHODS: 188 burn patients completed the final Arabic version of BSHS-B to assess the psychometric properties of BSHS-B-AR. Reliability was tested by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability (interclass correlation coefficients [ICCs]). Validity was investigated through floor and ceiling effect and confirmatory factor analysis(CFA). Also, convergent validity was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life scale abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and a construct validity was verified through known group technique. RESULTS: The scale showed excellent reliability. Cronbach's alpha was > 0.90 (total scale and for each sub-domain) and ICC was > 0.80 for the total scale and for the nine domains. Validity of the scale was satisfactory through CFA (82.7% of the total variance) and it showed a good fit with the original scale (CFI = 0.933). Also, a significant positive correlation was found between the BSHS-B-AR and the WHOQOL-BREF (P <0.001). The scale was able to discriminate between patient groups according to site of burns and length of hospitalization (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: The Arabic version of the BSHS-B is a reliable and a valid scale that can be used both in Arabic and international communities.