Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Relationship between parental emotional states, family environment and the behavioural adjustment of pediatric burn survivors.
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial adjustment of the burned child and characteristics of the child's family. It hypothesized that parents who perceived their children without major behavioural problems would possess supportive family values and would, themselves, be better adjusted psychologically than those parents who perceived their children as possessing multiple behavioural problems. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 35 (29 boys, 6 girls) paediatric burn survivors, ages 9 to 18, 1-5 years post-burn, with burn sizes ranging from 3 to 92% burn. ⋯ The parents of the untroubled group scored higher on 'Cohesion' and 'Organization' and lower on 'Conflict'. These parents also scored higher (p< or =0.05) on 'Achievement Orientation'. The results indicate that work with the family to promote cohesion. to decrease conflict, to enhance stability and to promote expectation of positive achievement must he a part of the rehabilitation of the burned child.
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Clinical Trial
Background pain in burn patients: routine measurement and recording of pain intensity in a burn unit.
It goes without saying that pain following a burn must be treated but it is not so evident to measure and document the intensity of pain and the efficacy of treatment. Since 1994 the authors have routinely measured background pain, that is, at rest, along with temperature and pulse rate. For analysis and quality assessment a relational database programme is used in the ward. ⋯ Measurement of background pain along with other routine registrations is easy and not time-consuming. Patients needing intensified pain treatment can be identified. For research and quality assessment a computerized patient register is of great help.
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Procedures designed to limit spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in burns units demand time and resources. To assess the significance of MRSA in burns patients we performed a retrospective review of MRSA colonization in in-patients over a 41-month period at the North Trent Sub-regional Burns Unit. Patients were compared with MRSA free controls, matched for age and percentage body surface area (BSA) burn and admitted during the same time period. ⋯ Colonization with S. aureus (both MRSA and MSSA) was associated with larger burns (p<0.05), twice as many operative procedures (p<0.05) and prolonged admissions (p<0.01). Mortality was unaltered by staphylococcal colonization (p = 0.8). Although our study lacks power, we would suggest that methicillin resistance per se is not associated with increased morbidity or mortality in burns patients.
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The successful use of elective post-operative sedation and ventilation following tangential surgical excision of burns in an autistic child. non-compliant with conventional management is reported. Other strategies for treating autistic children are discussed.
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The purpose of this study was to assess the reaction to burn trauma, the hospitalisation characteristics and psychosocial adjustment in 174 burn victims who agreed to participate in a structured interview. It was postulated that once patients sustain a burn, the level of loneliness feelings and feelings of shame is a function of the visibility of the scars. Contrary to expectation, the visibility of the burn scars was not a predictor of pathological feelings of shame. By contrast, social introversion was a factor significantly associated with the development of burn related pathological feelings of shame.