Model System:

Burn

Reference Type:

JA

Accession No.:

J62903

Journal:



Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

, 37, 3, 387-394

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Study examined the impact of face burns on the psychosocial adjustment of pediatric burn survivors and their parents during the first two years after injury. Subjects were 390 children less than 18 years old at injury, admitted for burn treatment from September 2001 to December 2004. Psychosocial functioning was assessed using the age-specific Burn Outcomes Questionnaire (BOQ) administered at scheduled time points following discharge up to 24 months thereafter. The BOQ includes an adolescent self-report questionnaire for patients 11 to 18 years of age and two age-specific questionnaires for parents: one version for parents of children under five years old and another for those with children 5 to 18 years old. A psychosocial score was determined from domains of the BOQ, and these scores from children with both face burns and grafts were compared to those of children with non-face burns or with face burns but no face grafts. The parents of both the 0- to-4 year olds and the 5-to-18 year olds who had facial burns and grafts reported decreased BOQ psychosocial scores. When the teenagers (11 to 18 years old) with facial burns and grafts filled out the BOQ themselves, they also reported low psychosocial scores compared to those with no facial burns with grafts. Findings suggest that severe face burn influences psychosocial adjustment in children. Additional psychosocial support is suggested to enhance recovery for patients with severe face burns and their families during the years following injury.

Author(s):


Stubbs T.K., James L.E., Daugherty, M.B., Epperson, K., Barajaz, K., Blakeney, P., Meyer, W.J.