Portuguese translation of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The scar assessment is a useful tool in surgical intervention and other treatments by documenting efficacy and making possible to improve them. There is no record of a standard scale in Portuguese to scar evaluation, and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was chosen to translation and validation for having received the best evaluations in reviews, and because it contemplates the patients' perception. METHODS:We translated the POSAS scale from English to Portuguese. The translation was based on orientations from the World Health Organization, with permission from the main author of the original scale. Before the pre-testing, the translated scale was sent to the authors of the original scale for analysis, and adjusts were made. RESULTS: The pre-testing version was applied by three examiners in five patients each (n = 15), and difficulties were reported to the authors. No alterations were necessary during the pre-test. CONCLUSION: In this manuscript, we present the translation process of POSAS, and its validation is now in progress.

Keywords

• translating
• scars
• scales
• processs assessment(health care)
• outcome assessment(health care)