title: Inpatient peer support for adult burn survivors-a valuable resource: a phenomenological analysis of the Australian experience.
abstract: Peer support has long been recognised as an essential component of a supportive network for people facing adversity. In particular, burn survivor peer support is a valuable and credible resource available to those rehabilitating from a severe burn. The aim of this study was to explore burn survivors' experiences of providing and receiving inpatient peer support to develop an in-depth understanding of the influence during the rehabilitation journey. In 2011, twenty-one burn survivors were recruited from four severe burn units across Australia. A qualitative phenomenological methodology was used to construct themes depicting survivors' experiences. Participants were selected through purposeful sampling, and data collected through in-depth individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method of data analysis. Central to burn rehabilitation was the notion of peer support having a significant impact on burn survivors' psychosocial rehabilitation. The emergent theme 'Burn Survivor Peer Support' identified five cluster themes: (1) Encouragement, inspiration and hope (2) Reassurance (3) The Importance of Timing (4) The Same Skin (5) Appropriate Matching. These findings demonstrate that peer support assists with fostering reassurance, hope and motivation in burn rehabilitation. A national network based on a clinician led inpatient burn survivor peer support programme could provide burn survivors across Australia, and in particular remote access locations, with the benefits of peer support necessary to endure the rehabilitation journey.
authors.affiliation: Severe Burns Injury Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; The University of Adelaide, School of Nursing, SA, Australia. Electronic address: rachel.kornhaber@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kornhaber
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia; Prince of Wales Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mútah University, Mútah, Jordan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu-Qamar
authors.affiliation: Westmead Psychotherapy Program, Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and WSLHD, Australia; Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.affiliation: Severe Burns Services NSW, Australia; Northern Local Health District, Australia; Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery & Burns, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vandervord
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010379:Peer Group; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Burns survivor; Inpatient; Lived experience; Peer support; Qualitative research