title: Effects of enhanced patient education on compliance with silicone gel sheeting and burn scar outcome: a randomized prospective study.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether enhanced patient education increases compliance with silicone gel sheeting (SGS) on hypertrophic (HT) scars and to determine whether this results in any improvement in scar outcome. Outpatients with a HT burn scar were randomized to either a conventional education group (CEG), which received routine instruction on the use of SGS or to an enhanced education Group (EEG), which also received routine instruction, along with a detailed 5-page handout and a 26-minute videotape. The CEG (n = 12, 67% male, age 38 +/- 10 years) and the EEG (n = 13, 77% male, age 47 +/- 10 years) were followed monthly for 6 months. Subjects in the EEG wore SGS for 21.8 +/- 3.0 hr/day compared with only 10.1 +/- 7.5 hr/day of use in the CEG (P <.001). Scars in the EEG had significantly better Vancouver Scar Scale ratings for pigmentation (P =.02), height (P =.03), and pliability (P =.02) by 6 months. Patients in the EEG had significantly better subjective ratings for the parameters of scar itch (P =.01), color (P =.02), hardness (P =.01), and elevation (P =.01). Finally, scars in the EEG had significantly better ratings for border height (P =.002) and thickness (P =.01) at 6 months based on evaluation of digital photographs. Detailed multimedia patient education improves compliance with SGS and results in a better scar outcome.
authors: Ross Tilley Burn Center, Sunnybrook and Women's Collge Health Sciences Center and the Multiple Trauma & Complex Care Program, St John's Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Ken
authors: K
authors: So
authors: Nisha
authors: N
authors: Umraw
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Scott
authors: Kent
authors: K
authors: Campbell
authors: Melinda
authors: M
authors: Musgrave
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Cartotto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019212:Multimedia; D009779:Occlusive Dressings; D010045:Outpatients; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D020034:Silicone Gels; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020034:Silicone Gels