ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to validate and establish reliability of the International Skin Tear classification system.
METHOD: A consensus panel of 12 internationally recognized key opinion leaders convened in 2011 to establish consensus statements on the prevention, prediction, assessment, and treatment of skin tears. Subsequently, a new skin tear classification system was proposed. The system was then tested for interrater and intrarater reliability between the experts before being tested more widely on a sample of 327 individuals from the United States, Canada, and Europe.
RESULTS: The results of the study indicated a substantial level of agreement for the expert panel (Fleiss [kappa] = 0.619; 2-month follow-up = 0.653). Intrarater reliability was high (Cohen [kappa] = 0.877). Interrater reliability was moderate (Fleiss [kappa] = 0.555) for healthcare professionals (n = 303) and fair for non-health professionals (Fleiss [kappa] = 0.338; n = 24).
CONCLUSIONS: This international study established the reliability and validity of a new classification system for skin tears.