Gender differences in quality of life and psychological impact of facial burn scars in a tertiary care center.

Aim: To compare the quality of life and psychological impact of cases of facial burn scar between male and female patients.

Study Type: An observational cross sectional study done in a tertiary care university level teaching hospital, on a hospital based sample over a period ranging from January 2018 to July 2019.

Methodology: The study was carried out on 32 patients of facial burn scar, who were screened for psychiatric diagnoses by MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview; severity of depression and anxiety assessed by HDRS and HAM A; assessed for QoL and scar ratings of both patient and observer. QoL was assessed using the WHO QOL BREF questionnaire. The scar assessment was done with the help of POSAS by interviewing the patient and examination of the scar.

Results: None of other socio-demographic variables patient showed any significant association with the number of psychiatric diagnoses of the patient or QoL domains; barring years of schooling, which had a significant positive correlation with the psychological domain score of QoL. Being male or female also did not show any significant differences with the anxiety or depression severity. No burn or scar related variable could reach significant association, except scar itching, stiffness scores of POSAS P and overall scar opinion score of POSAS O, with the number of psychiatric diagnoses of the patient. Extent of scar had significant negative associations with the physical and psychological domains of QoL. Significant negative correlations were found between scar variables like stiffness, pigmentation, relief, pliability, and overall opinion and QoL domain scores. The total observer score of POSAS and the overall opinion of observer had much stronger negative correlation than the patient score; the latter having a significant association with the depression severity as well.

Conclusion: No statistically significant gender difference in QoL and psychological impact of patients with facial burn scar were found. However educational level was found to positively influence the psychological well-being of the patients; whereas scar extent was found to negatively affect the physical and psychological domains of QoL.