After a serious burn, re-entry into family life, society, and work can be incredibly difficult. Support services such as professional counseling and peer support play a key role for recovering survivors. Herein, we sought to identify support service participation rates, barriers to participation, and quality of life (QOL) among burn survivors treated at a regional burn center. A survey of burn survivors over 18 years old treated for a burn for 5 days or greater between 2006 and 2016 were invited to participate in a survey. The three-part survey contained sections covering demographics, questions regarding support program (SP) awareness, needs and participation, and QOL surveys. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify factors related to SP participation and QOL scores. Nine hundred sixty-eight patients were eligible; 150 responses were received. Over one third (40, 31%) of the responding survivors wanted support, but only half of those (23, 17%) participated in SPs. Distance and awareness of the available programs were two barriers to participation. Those attending SPs were more likely to have had larger burns (OR = 3.7, P = 0.05) and visible burns (OR = 7.5, P = 0.031). Lower scores on selected QOL scales were associated with burns more than 30%, visible burns, female gender, time from burn, and age group. A sizable number of burn survivors want SPs. However, access to these services and advertising their existence are hurdles to overcome. Future burn survivor SPs should focus on psychosocial stresses identified in the QOL assessments.

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We investigated the adherence of two cementitious materials, calcium phosphate cement (CPC) and silica flour‐filled class G cement (CGC), to metal substrates, such as cold‐rolled steel (CRS), stainless steel (SS), electroplated zinc‐coated steel (EZS), and zinc phosphate‐coated steel (ZPS) after autoclaving at 200°C. In CPC/metal joints, the γ‐AlOOH phase, which segregated from the hydroxyapatite phase of the CPC matrix, was preferentially precipitated on the CRS and SS surfaces and also mixed with the reaction products formed at the interfaces between CPC and EZS or ZPS. Precipitation of γ‐AlOOH caused the formation of a weak boundary layer at the interfacial transition zones, thereby resulting in a low shear‐bond strength. Although CGC accelerated the rate of corrosion of CRS and SS surfaces, the growth of Fe2O3 clusters, formed as the corrosion products of metals at interfaces, aided the anchoring effect of xonotlite crystals as the major phase of CGC matrix, thereby conferring a high shear‐bond strength. The EZS and ZPS surfaces were susceptible to alkali dissolution caused by the attack of the high‐pH interstitial fluid of CGC pastes to the Zn and zinc phosphate coatings. Thus, the bond strengths of the CGC/EZS and /ZPS joints were lower than those of the joints made with CRS and SS.

Sustaining a burn injury often results in a life-long recovery process. Survivors are impacted by changes in their mobility, appearance, and ability to carry out activities of daily living. In this study, we examined survivors’ accounts of their treatment and recovery in order to identify specific factors that have had significant impacts on their well-being. With this knowledge, we may be better equipped to optimize the care of burn patients. We conducted inductive, thematic analysis on transcripts of in-depth, semistructured interviews with 11 burn survivors. Participants were purposefully selected for variability in age, gender, injury size and mechanism, participation in peer support, and rurality. Survivors reported varied perceptions of care quality and provider relationships. Ongoing issues with skin and mobility continued to impact their activities of daily living. Many survivors reported that they did not have a clear understanding or realistic expectations of the recovery process. Wound care was often described as overwhelming and provoked fear for many. Even years later, trauma from burn injury can continue to evolve, creating fears and impediments to daily living for survivors. To help patients understand the realistic course of recovery, providers should focus on communicating the nature of injury and anticipated recovery, developing protocols to better identify survivors facing barriers to care, and referring survivors for further support.