Assessing the impact of missing data in evaluating the recovery of minor burn patients

Finlay, Vidya; Burke, Krischelle; van de Ruit, Claire; Lapuz, Ramona; Phillips, Michael; Wood, Fiona; Edgar, Dale

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2009.05.004

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Volume 35, Issue 8 , Pages 1086-1091, December 2009

Assessing the impact of missing data in evaluating the recovery of minor burn patients

Vidya Finlay
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, Australia
Krischelle Burke
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Australia
Claire van de Ruit
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Australia
Ramona Lapuz
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Australia
Michael Phillips
- Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, Royal Perth Hospital, University of Western Australia, Australia
Fiona Wood
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Australia
Dale Edgar
- Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, McComb Foundation of Western Australia, University of Western Australia, Australia
- Corresponding author at: Tel.:stra Burns Outcome Centre, Level 11 – Wellington St Campus, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, 6847, Australia.

Accepted 4 May 2009.

Abstract

Introduction

Little published evidence is available regarding the recovery of patients with minor burns. Poor attendance at review clinics results in incomplete data which hampers accurate analysis of patient recovery. It is often assumed that non-attendance for review is due to full recovery and the inconvenience associated with clinic attendance. This study aimed to obtain final outcomes for a group of minor burn patients and identify factors contributing to missing data.

Method

A group of patients with minor burn+upper limb involvement, noted to have 81% non-attendance at 6-month review, were contacted to evaluate their recovery and service satisfaction. The stability of responses from 6 months after burn was compared in a subset of participants who did attend review. Demographics of non-responders were compared to responders.

Results

Final outcomes were obtained from 67% of participants. Mean BSHS-B and QuickDASH scores for this group were 150.2 and 1.55% disability, respectively, indicating a good recovery. Subsequent non-responders were significantly younger (p=0.016), suggestive of a better recovery than responders. Dissatisfaction with the service was not a contributing factor in non-attendance.