Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Review Observational Study
Infant burns: A single institution retrospective review.
Thermal injuries amongst infants are common and a cause of significant mortality and morbidity in South Africa. This has been attributed to the lack of an enabling environment (poverty-related lack of safe living conditions) and the cognitive and physical developmental immaturity of infants, who depend on their surroundings and adults to keep them safe. This is a retrospective observational study of 548 infant admissions over 48 months. ⋯ The mortality rate was 0.36%. The surgically treated patients acquired more complications than the conservatively treated group. Special treatment considerations should be considered in this paediatric sub-group.
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The aim of this study is to compare doctors' knowledge regarding analgesia in paediatric burns patients in a setting where analgesia protocols are provided but not reinforced to a setting where the same protocols are used but with constant re-enforcement from burns surgeons. ⋯ We have identified a discrepancy in knowledge between staff in an academic burn centre and those in peripheral referral hospitals. This discrepancy translates into differences in quality of burn analgesia which patients receive. Ongoing efforts must be directed towards changing the culture of district institution and strengthening attempts to standardize care across the region.
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Observational Study
Plasma protein C levels are directly associated with better outcomes in patients with severe burns.
Protein C circulates in human plasma to regulate inflammation and coagulation. It has shown a crucial role in wound healing in animals, and low plasma levels predict the presence of a wound in diabetic patients. However, no detailed study has measured protein C levels in patients with severe burns over the course of a hospital admission. ⋯ Together, these four variables predicted increased support utilisation with 93.2% accuracy, 83.3% sensitivity and 97.6% specificity. However if protein C values were disregarded, only 49.5% of the variance was explained, with 82% accuracy, 63% sensitivity and 91.5% specificity. Thus, protein C may be a useful biomarker of burn severity and study replication will enable validation of these novel findings.
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Self-immolation is one of the most painful methods of suicide which is widespread among women in Kurdish regions of Iran. The present study aimed to explore the causes and sociocultural groundwork of choosing self-immolation methods by women in Kurdish regions of Iran. This present study was conducted using a qualitative approach and conventional content analysis. ⋯ From the analysis of the data obtained in this study, the 8 sub-themes related to cause of suicide attempt from the participants' viewpoints including unbridled coherence, lack of supportive social and environmental structures, economic pressure, aggravation of violence, humiliated ego, dominance of modern values over the local and indigenous ones, incoherent family, and giving up on changing conditions as well as 6 sub themes based on the cause of choosing the method of self-immolation including protesting, frightening the family, catching more attention, championing and showing courage, inducing more guilty feelings in the family and society, fashion or imitation, and easy access were revealed. Self-immolation is one of the most important problems in the Kurdish regions of Iran, which is rooted in various economic, social, psychological and cultural causes. To reduce this social harm, there is a need for comprehensive programs that cover all dimensions.