Which professionals can use the DAS24 and DAS59?
The scales are designed for both routine use in clinical settings and measuring clinical outcomes, and for applied research into the underlying issues involved in adjustment to appearance problems. We therefore anticipate that users of the scale will come from a range of professional backgrounds, including general practitioners, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, dermatologists, clinical and health psychologists, hospital based and community based nurses, as well as academics from a diversity of subject backgrounds.
The scales deal with sensitive and personal information. They therefore should only be administered by professionals who are aware of the ethical implications of dealing with such data, and are working within the ethical guidelines of an appropriate professional body (such as the British Psychological Society, the British Medical Association or the Royal College of Nursing for users in the UK). Furthermore, we would expect that researchers will gain approval from their appropriate ethics committee(s). The authors of the scales do not take responsibility for the ethical administration or data handling. However, we would recommend that informed consent is obtained, and the right to withdraw data is made clear. Data storage in the UK should be in line with the most recent Data Protection Act.
Which clients and patients can use the DAS24 and DAS59?
Both versions of the Derriford Appearance Scale have been validated on English speaking adults without learning disabilities or dementia. The DAS is not appropriate to use on populations other than these.
Administration of the DAS24 and DAS59
The scales have been designed to be completed independently by respondents. The length of time to complete the scale varies, but is usually under 15 minutes for the DAS59, and between five and ten minutes for the DAS24. The scale has been used with anonymous postal completion and in vivo completion in hospital settings. It would be feasible to assist completion with the scales (for example, by a nurse in an outpatient clinic). At this stage, it is not clear whether demand and situational characteristics would alter the way that the scale was used in this context. Details as to how to score each version of the scale are contained within the test manuals.