The Journal of burn care & rehabilitation
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Jul 1987
Adult psychosocial adjustment following childhood injury: the effect of disfigurement.
The literature investigating the psychosocial adjustment of burn survivors is limited and that addressing such adjustment in burned children is contradictory. Forty-two adults, burned in childhood, were assembled into burn severity cohorts and compared as to burn severity, intensity of stress, and extent of disfigurement and disability. The findings substantiated the hypothesis that the biologic variables of years since burn and severity would not explain psychosocial adjustment in adulthood; lower adjustment correlated with visible disfigurement and less peer support rather than with severity of burn.
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The staff of a burn unit was surveyed concerning attitudes about their patients and the treatment procedure. Previous research indicates that in such medical settings paradoxical interactions (double binds) may occur among staff, patient, and family. We hypothesized that the paradoxical environment of burn care units facilitates individuals who can change their perspective (or reframe these situations) and that this ability is related to attitudes and feelings about burn patients and their treatment. ⋯ Staff members are quite positive about burn treatment and agree that the staff instills hope. The staff's endorsement of providing accurate information, while behaving optimistically even if pessimistic about the patient's condition, does represent possible double-binding communication patterns. Nursing managers with high reframing ability may facilitate staff coping with these issues.
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J Burn Care Rehabil · Jul 1987
A school reentry program for burned children. Part I: Development and implementation of a school reentry program.
Sustaining a burn injury is a devastating and painful experience. After acute concerns have been dealt with, continued support of the child and family is important in achieving a smooth return to normal activities. ⋯ Utilization of personnel in the administrative structure of state and local school systems promoted the acceptance of the program by local school personnel. Although this program is designed to meet the needs of burned children, the goals of the school reentry program may meet similar needs of children with other chronic illnesses.