Body Image Scale
What It Measures
The Body Image Scale (BIS) is a 10-item, patient-reported outcome measure to assess body image in cancer patients. This assessment covers topics such as level of perceived attractiveness, impact of scars, and social impacts such as body confidence related to how they have been feeling in the last week. Patients are asked to respond to questions with the following options: nothing, very little, moderate, or very.
Several research articles support the validity and reliability of this assessment for use as a pre- and post-treatment outcome measure, although the assessment is not meant to diagnose body image related disorders; it is simply to track how one feels about themselves over time and the course of treatment.
Further Reading
Additional Notes
Licensing Notes: The BIS is available for free through by request through eProvide, and can sometimes be found through third party websites. Copyright permissions must be requested for use in research.
Learn more: The assessment was created and standardized for adults, but practitioners may choose to use this assessment with adolescents given the prevalent impact of body image within this population.
