This is the part of the web site where I will post new developments, projects using the Derriford Appearance Scales, etc.
If you have used the DAS and would like a mention here, please do let me know and I’ll happily include something about your work.
Tim
The DAS59 is now being used in South Korea, following a succesful translation process in a collaboration between Seoul National University, Seoul National University Hospital Boramae Medical Center, and the Universtity of the West of England (Bristol)
Factor structure for DAS24 identified, presented at Appearance Matters 4, Bristol 2010.
Powerpoint presentation, presented by Dr Tim Moss.
The presentation includes:
Kythera Biopharmaceuticals choose DAS24 as international outcome measure in major trial.
DAS24 used as the main outcome measure in £500K project at UWE(Bristol) funded by the Healing Foundation
Internationalisation continues! Versions of the DAS are now available in Spanish, French, Swedish and Japanese. Work is ongoing on Dutch, Danish and Portugese translations.
Presentation of Appearance Matters paper Jun 2006 using DAS24
Background: Although minor facial injuries are relatively common, their psychological impact is an area neglected in the literature. For physiologically major injuries (such as facial cancers, burns and fractures), the face has been suggested to be a psychologically significant area of the body and disfigurement has been found to have numerous potential social consequences for patients.
Aims: This paper reports the findings of an inquiry that explored the psychological impact of minor facial injuries and the influence of patient and scar characteristics in relation to self-consciousness and anxiety levels.
Method: Data were collected in 2001 in an accident and emergency unit from patients with a visible laceration over 1.5 cm that was treatable in an outpatient setting. The Derriford Appearance Scale (with general and social self-consciousness subscales) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were administered to 63 patients 1 week later; data on 50 patients were also available 6 months after the injury.
Results: Larger scar size, living alone and aetiology of injury were significantly related to self-consciousness and anxiety levels, although gender, age, socioeconomic group, location of scar, satisfaction with appearance and number of scars were not. General self-consciousness improved at 6 months but social self-consciousness and anxiety remained the same. Patient factors were not related to changes in general self-consciousness over time.
Conclusions: Minor facial scars can have significant psychological impact for some people. Awareness training for health professionals, social skills training for affected patients and a patient information leaflet are recommended.
Aim: The aim of this paper is to report a study to establish the extent and type of psychosocial needs of outpatients attending for treatment of a wide range of disfiguring conditions.
Background: Visible disfigurements can be associated with extensive psychosocial difficulties. The majority of research to date has been carried out with people identified by themselves or others as experiencing difficulties. Little is known about levels of distress in the broader population of patients receiving treatment for a range of disfiguring conditions.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, with a convenience sample. Participants (n = 458) drawn from 15 outpatient clinics completed standardized measures of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), social anxiety and avoidance (Derriford Appearance Scale short-form) and quality of life (World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Scale). A semi-structured interview was used to generate further quantitative and qualitative data about individual concerns, and satisfaction with the provision of care. Staff views about levels of psychosocial distress were elicited through group discussions.
Results: The results revealed high levels of psychological distress in the sample, compared with normative values. The majority of difficulties related to problems experienced in social situations. Patient satisfaction with care was generally high; however, and 71% of participants expressed a moderate to strong desire for a health care professional with training to deal with their appearance-related concerns. Nursing staff felt unable to address patients’ appearance-related difficulties because of time constraints, lack of an environment conducive to the discussion of patients’ concerns, and lack of appropriate knowledge and training.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of participants experienced psychosocial distress in relation to their visible difference. Psychosocial needs were poorly met in current outpatient care provision, and a range of options could be considered to address these more effectively.