Illness as a predisposing factor to scalds in children: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether the presence of illness is a predisposing factor to scalds in children aged five years and under.


METHODS
A mixed methodology approach was used in this exploratory study. The results from the questionnaire phase are reported in this article. Questionnaires (n = 90) were sent out to the parents and carers of all children who had been admitted to a regional paediatric burns unit with scalds in the previous year. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected.


RESULTS
These supported many of the findings in the literature. A typical child who had been scalded was a male toddler who was injured in the kitchen of his own home in the presence of a carer. Half of the children in this study were unwell around the time of the accident.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this was a small pilot study, the need for parents and health carers to be vigilant is highlighted particularly when a child is unwell.
Leaver
Jane
J
Birmingham City University.
Coad
Jane
J
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003139:Common Cold / Q000150:complications*; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014078:Tooth Eruption