Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Investigating the impact of patient-centered peer counseling on anxiety and pain among burn patients: A randomized controlled trial.
Pain and anxiety are common complications in burn patients, significantly impacting treatment effectiveness and overall patient well-being. Peer counseling, a form of patient education provided by individuals with shared experiences, may hold potential to alleviate this pain and anxiety. This study seeks to investigate the effectiveness of patient-centered education through peer counseling on background pain and state anxiety levels in these patients. ⋯ Based on our findings, we recommend that healthcare providers consider implementing peer-based education programs in burn care settings.
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Appearance concerns are common following burns. However, there is a lack of research investigating early psychological interventions for appearance concerns. This qualitative study explored the acceptability of early psychological interventions for appearance concerns after burns. ⋯ Early psychological interventions for appearance concerns following burns are likely to be acceptable for some patients. However, ambivalence and potential barriers remain to be addressed. Embedding early psychological interventions for appearance concerns into routine burn care could increase acceptability through normalisation.
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To assess burn injury knowledge and its predictors among reproductive-age women attending an urban and a semi-rural hospital in Northwest Nigeria DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study SETTING: It was conducted in the general and paediatric outpatient clinics of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano (urban setting) and the general outpatient, paediatric outpatient and antenatal clinics of Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu (semi-rural setting). ⋯ The proportion of respondents with adequate overall burn injury knowledge was high; however, knowledge gaps exist among them. Overall, their first-aid knowledge was relatively low. The urban and semi-rural respondents had no significant differences in first-aid, prevention, or overall knowledge of burn injuries. However, knowledge of the causes of burns and burn complications differed between the urban and semi-rural study locations. Therefore, the clinical settings of this study present opportunities for similar burn-related educational interventions.
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The incidence of "acid attacks" (vitreolage) is a global concern, with those affected often receiving lifelong medical care due to physical and psychological damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of several emergency skin decontamination approaches against concentrated (>99 %) sulphuric acid and to identify the effective window of opportunity for decontamination. The effects of four decontamination methods (dry, wet, combined dry & wet and cotton cloth) were assessed using an in vitro diffusion cell system containing dermatomed porcine skin. Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) was applied to the skin with decontamination protocols performed at 10 s, 30 s, 8 min, and 30 min post exposure. ⋯ Quantification of dermal sulphur content confirmed the rapid (exponential) decrease in decontamination efficiency with time. The pH of the water effluent indicated complete neutralisation of acid from the skin surface after 90 s of irrigation. Wet decontamination (either alone or immediately following dry decontamination) was the most effective intervention evaluated, although no decontamination technique was statistically effective after 30 s exposure to the acid. These data demonstrate the time-critical consequences of dermal exposure to concentrated sulphuric acid: we find no practical window of opportunity for acid decontamination, as physical damage is virtually instantaneous.