Measuring Stakeholder Assessments of Postsurgical Facial Scars: A Retrospective Cohort Inter-rater Analysis of Patients, Physicians, and Medical Student Observers

BACKGROUND The relationship of postoperative facial scar assessments among patients, physicians, and societal onlookers is not clearly defined. OBJECTIVE To identify differences in perceived scar outcomes by different stakeholders. METHODS AND Materials: Retrospective cohort study at a single Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) center during which scars were assessed by: patients, physicians, and medical student observers not involved in patients' care using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (v.2). Eighty-one patients graded their scars at 2 visits: 1 to 2 weeks post-MMS and 3 months post-MMS. Deidentified patient photographs were taken at each visit and graded by 4 physicians and 12 observers. RESULTS At week 1, there was a significant difference in overall opinion of scar appearance between patient and physicians (p = .001) and medical student observers and physicians (p
Source: Dermatologic Surgery - Category: Dermatology Tags: Original Article Source Type: research