SF-12® for Head-and-Neck Keloid Patients: Preliminary Results towards Creating a Keloid-Specific Scale

Abstract

Objectives:

1) Compare SF-12® scores by head and neck keloid patients to U.S. Norms. 2) Contrast SF-12® scores with keloid symptomatology, including pain, burning, itching, and infection. 3) Discuss the use of keloid-specific quality of life (QOL) instruments over global health-related QOL instruments in further research on head and neck keloids.

Methods:

Patients presenting to a keloid clinic in a tertiary referral institution between April 2012 and February 2013 were administered the SF-12® during their first three appointments. Mental health and physical health composite scores (MCS and PCS) were calculated from SF-12® surveys and compared with U.S. general population norm SF-36® scores using two-sample t-tests. Associations between SF-12® scores and symptoms were evaluated using Spearman’s Rho.

Results:

First, second, and third visits were completed by 24, 16, and 14 patients, respectively. Median age was 29.5 years (range 15-56), and 17% (4) were male. Average initial-visit MCS and PCS scores were 52.9 (±7.8) and 55.1 (±5.1). No significant difference was found between MCS scores and national norms (p=0.08), but PCS scores were significantly higher than the norm (p<0.0001). No association was found between MCS or PCS scores and any symptoms, but negative association between pain scores and MCS and PCS scores approached significance (p=0.076 and 0.057, respectively).

Conclusions:

The goal of disease-specific QOL measures is to increase measurement range over global health-related QOL instruments, while increasing specificity to a health problem. We believe our results demonstrate global QOL scales are inadequate for addressing QOL issues faced by keloid patients, highlighting the need for keloid-specific scales.