The aim of this study was to develop an expert-consensus based set of core outcomes to be assessed across all randomised controlled trials in burn care research.

PI: Dr Amber Young (BRSTC)
CACH team: Dr Anna Davies, Jeremy Ward

There was considerable variation in the outcomes assessed in studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatments for patients with burns. This heterogeneity prevents evidence synthesis and therefore identification of the most effective treatments for patients. The COSB study aimed to develop an expert consensus-informed Core Outcome Set to be assessed across all trials of burn care.

Studies included:

1. Systematic review of clinical outcomes reported in randomised controlled trials of burn care.
2. Systematic review to assess the methodological quality, and quality or reporting of trials in burn care using the ROB 2.0 tool and CONSORT.
3. Systematic review to identify clinically observed and patient-reported outcomes measured in the short-term following burn injury.
4. Delphi survey and consensus study with burns experts to identify a core outcome set for trials of burn interventions.

This research was funded by an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship (Dr Amber Young) and by the Scar Free Foundation.

This study was completed in 2020.