Considerations for psychosocial support following burn injury--a family perspective.
As part of a larger study involving burned adults and parents of burned children, family members were asked for their views regarding the impact of burn on themselves and the family (N=50). The aim is to describe the range of psychosocial issues that psychosocial support programmes may need to address. This paper reports on the content analysis of specifically designed self-completion questionnaires. The results reveal commonalities within support needs across the three study groups (siblings, children, and partners). These are recommended as key elements in a family support programme: (i) normalising of family member's reactions to the burn. (ii) Advice, support, and information regarding scar permanence, realistic outcome expectations, acceptance of altered appearance, and potential after-effects of burn. (iii) Support in understanding how a burned individual may change or respond following injury and advice regarding constructive methods of coping with altered family dynamics and after-effects of burn. (iv) Advice to enable family members and their burned relative to effectively deal with potentially uncomfortable social encounters.
Phillips
Claire
C
Centre for Appearance Research, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. claire.phillips@orange.net
Fussell
Anna
A
Rumsey
Nichola
N
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000523:psychology; D004954:Esthetics; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D035781:Siblings; D012944:Social Support; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices