Considerations for psychosocial support following burn injury--a family perspective

Abstract

As part of a larger study involving burned adults and parents of burned children, family members were asked for their views regarding the impact of burn on themselves and the family (N=50). The aim is to describe the range of psychosocial issues that psychosocial support programmes may need to address. This paper reports on the content analysis of specifically designed self-completion questionnaires. The results reveal commonalities within support needs across the three study groups (siblings, children, and partners). These are recommended as key elements in a family support programme: (i) normalising of family member's reactions to the burn. (ii) Advice, support, and information regarding scar permanence, realistic outcome expectations, acceptance of altered appearance, and potential after-effects of burn. (iii) Support in understanding how a burned individual may change or respond following injury and advice regarding constructive methods of coping with altered family dynamics and after-effects of burn. (iv) Advice to enable family members and their burned relative to effectively deal with potentially uncomfortable social encounters.