title: Identification of factors that predict outpatient utilisation of a Plastic Dressing Clinic. A retrospective review of 287 paediatric burn cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated aetiology of burn cases presenting to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh to identify factors that influence the number of outpatient visits patients make to the Plastic Dressing Clinic (PDC) following discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was performed of all paediatric burn cases presenting between January 2009 and July 2012. Information gathered included patient demographics, burn aetiology, details of inpatient admission and outpatient PDC attendance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  287 cases were identified, mean age 2.79 years (range 0-15), gender ratio 1.52:1 (M:F). Scald was the most common aetiology, n=172 (59.9%). Most burns were superficial thickness, n=173 (60.3%). One-way ANOVA showed that full thickness burn, skin graft and pressure garment therapy significantly increased the number of PDC appointments (p<0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient found that length of stay in hospital and time spent in theatre were positively correlated to the number of PDC appointments (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outpatient utilisation of the PDC can be predicted from burn characteristics. Full thickness burn, skin graft and pressure garment therapy are identified to significantly increase the number of PDC appointments following paediatric burn.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, 9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH9 1LF, Scotland, United Kingdom. Electronic address: lauraclifton@doctors.org.uk.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Clifton
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, 9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH9 1LF, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lee W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery Department, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, 9 Sciennes Road, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH9 1LF, Scotland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001458:Bandages; D002053:Burn Units; D002056:Burns / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Burns; Outpatient; Paediatric; Plastic Dressing Clinic