Development of Short Forms of the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation 1 to 5 Years

The Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Computer Adaptive Test was developed using Rasch methods and computer adaptive testing technologies to assess burn recovery among children aged 1-5 years. To enhance accessibility in settings without advanced computer technology, this study developed short forms. Calibration data from the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation item bank were used for short form item selection. Items were iteratively added to maximize the test information function, with reliability constrained to ≥ 0.8. Differential item functioning was evaluated, and Cronbach’s alpha and score correlations were used to assess internal consistency and validity. Data were obtained from 500 parents of burn survivors (mean ± SD age = 3.0 ± 1.4 years; 55.2% male; mean total body surface area burned = 4.2%; and mean time since burn = 1.1 years). Three 10-item short forms were developed for Communication and Language, Physical Functioning, and Emotional Well-being. Differential item functioning analyses indicated the need for age-specific Communication and Language forms (>3 years and ≤ 3 years). Across all short forms, ceiling effects were ≤ 15% and floor effects < 1%. Marginal reliability ranged from 0.74 to 0.90, Cronbach’s alpha from 0.86 to 0.90, and correlations with the full-item bank from 0.97 to 0.98. The short forms demonstrated strong psychometric properties and minimal measurement bias. The short forms approximate the computer adaptive test score for each scale and are a part of the Preschool Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Profile, offering a practical and valid assessment of recovery outcomes in preschool-aged children with burn injuries.