title: Sexuality, body image and relationships following burns: analysis of BSHS-B outcome measures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Burns Specific Health Scale - Brief (BSHS-B) was analyzed to investigate the longitudinal impact of burns on sexuality and body image. Four sub-domains of the BSHS-B domains were of particular interest: sexuality, body image, affect and relationships, and as such were investigated for correlation between all of the sub-scales of the BSHS-B.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1846 observations from 865 Western Australian burn patient BSHS-B questionnaires were analyzed. Descriptive statistical methods included dichotomous and ordinal scale variables and medians, as well at the range for continuous variables. Inferential statistical methods used longitudinal linear mixed-effects models and random effects models with the BSHS-B total and its sub-scales as dependent variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The four BSHS-B domains of interest all showed no significant change over time, indicating that the psychological and psychosocial impact of burns does not significantly improve for burn survivors, regardless of good physical and functional recovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burn survivors experience sexuality, body image and relationship changes following a burn, which may affect their quality of life (QoL) over time. Rehabilitation services need to be aware of these issues and create rehabilitation programs that specifically and meaningfully address these issues for burn survivors.
authors: School of Public Health, Sexology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia; Fiona Wood Foundation, Australia. Electronic address: k.connell@curtin.edu.au.
authors: K M
authors: KM
authors: Connell
authors: Royal Perth Hospital & Western Australian Institute for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: michael.phillips@waimr.uwa.edu.au.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Phillips
authors: School of Public Health, Sexology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Coates
authors: School of Public Health, Sexology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Doherty-Poirier
authors: Fiona Wood Foundation, Australia; Burns Service of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia; Burn Injury Research Unit, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors: F M
authors: FM
authors: Wood
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body image; Burns; Burns Specific Health Scale-Brief; Relationships; Sexuality