The influence of parental visiting on survival and recovery of extensively burned children.
At two recent conferences, one specifically devoted to psychosocial aspects of treatment of burns, the beneficial effect of contact with relatives was emphasized. A review of material from a study made during 1962/3 of 105 burned children confirmed that emphasis, with regard to survival of the most seriously burned children. Of seven children with full thickness injury in excess of 25 per cent BSA burned, four were visited daily by parents and recovered, while of three children who were not visited daily two died and a third became moribund and probably would have died if daily parental visiting had not been reinstated. Of 15 children with full thickness injury between 10 and 24 per cent BSA burned there was virtually no difference in the number of days spent in the children's burns unit for 10 who were visited daily and for five who were not. Plans to centralize specialized burns units may be counterproductive unless they include provision of transport fares as well as accommodation for relatives in order to encourage visiting.
Benians
R C
RC
Ealing Child Guidance Service, London, UK.
D002056:Burns / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D014789:Visitors to Patients