Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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The study was carried out to analyze the factors influencing the elevated serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels during the early phase of extensive burn, and to investigate its potential for sepsis prediction and prognosis. Clinical data of 324 patients with extensive burns treated at our department from July 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Approximately half of the patients (50.93%) exhibited elevated serum PCT concentrations during the early phase, and elevated PCT levels may not be caused by infections. ⋯ Patient age, burn index, APACHE-II score at admission, early-phase PCT level, and sepsis occurrence were risk factors for mortality in extensive-burn patients. During the early phase, approximately 50.93% of the extensive-burn patients exhibited elevated PCT levels, which were associated with non-infectious factors. As elevated PCT level during the early phase predicted sepsis occurrence within 60 days of injury and was significantly associated with patient mortality, it might be a potential burn severity indicator during the early phase of burn injury.
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Burn scar contractures limit range of motion (ROM) of joints and have substantial impact on disability and the quality of life (QoL) of patients, particularly in a Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) setting. Studies on the long-term outcome are lacking globally; this study describes the long-term impact of contracture release surgery performed in an LMIC. ⋯ Contracture release surgery performed in an LMIC significantly improved functional ROM, disability and QoL. Results showed that regaining a functional joint is associated with less disability and higher QoL.
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Burn scars can attract attention from others which can be perceived as stigmatizing behavior with negative psychological consequences. The Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ) is a validated instrument measuring the perception of stigmatization in burn survivors. The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Dutch version of the PSQ, specifically its factor structure, reliability, and associations with other relevant constructs. ⋯ The current study shows acceptable reliability and structural validity of the Dutch version of the PSQ in a 4-factor solution. Further research into measurement invariance across languages is recommended to establish a uniform multicultural instrument.
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Nursing is an embodiment of knowledge, clinical work, and interpersonal communication. Effective nursing care has a distinct influence on the overall satisfaction and experience of the patient. Communication is said to be indispensable in the delivery of quality healthcare. Effective communication between nurses and patients has proven to yield better results with pain control and improved psychological status of patients. ⋯ Due to the subjective nature of pain, the current study highlights the need for increased communication for an effective assessment and management of pain among patients with burns. It is, therefore, imperative that nurses be well trained in communication with an emphasis on patient-centered communication.