Social Interactions and Social Activities After Burn Injury: A Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation (LIBRE) Study

Abstract

Social interactions and activities are key components of social recovery following burn injuries. The objective of this study is to determine the predictors of these areas of social recovery. This study provides a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey of adult burn survivors. The Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation-192 was administered to 601 burn survivors for the field-testing of the Life Impact Burn Recovery Evaluation Profile. Survivors aged 18 years and older with injuries ≥5% total BSA or burns to critical areas (hands, feet, face, or genitals) were eligible to participate. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to determine predictors of the Social Activities and Social Interactions scale scores. A total of 599 people completed the Social Interactions and Social Activities scales. Of these, 77% identified as White Non-Hispanic, 55% were female, 55% were unmarried, and 80% had burns to critical areas. Participants had a mean age of 45 years, a mean time since burn injury of 15 years, and a mean burn size of 41% total BSA. Younger age (P < .01) and being married/living with a significant other (P ≤ .01) were associated with higher Social Activities and Social Interactions scale scores. Individual item responses reveal that survivors had lower scores on items related to participating in outdoor activities (30.4%) or feeling uncomfortable with their appearance (32.4% report dressing to avoid stares). Social interactions and activities are long-term challenges for burn survivors. It is important for clinicians to identify patients who may struggle with social recovery in order to focus on future community-based interventions.

“On the Recovery Journey:” An Integrative Review of the Needs of Burn Patients From Immediate Pre‐Discharge to Post‐Discharge Period Using the Omaha System

“…Physical activity is defined in the Omaha system as a state or quality of body movements during daily living. It was observed in this review that recovering from severe burns led to reduced physical activity both prior to discharge (Goyatá & Rossi, 2009) and months after discharge (Ohrtman et al, 2018; Shahid et al, 2018).…”

“…Twenty‐two quantitative and 10 qualitative studies were included. Four focused on pediatric burn survivors (Duke et al, 2018; Maskell, Newcombe, Martin, & Kimble, 2013; Sveen, Sjöberg, & Öster, 2014; Willebrand et al, 2011); 25 studies focused on adults (Abrams, Ogletree, Ratnapradipa, & Neumeister, 2016; Bayuo, Agbenorku, & Amankwa , 2016; Christiaens et al, 2015; Elsherbiny, Salem, El‐Sabbagh, Elhadidy, & Eldeen, 2011; Goyatá & Rossi, 2009; Hunter et al, 2013; Idrees, Faize, & Akhtar, 2017; Jang, Park, Chong, & Sok, 2017; Johnson, Taggart, & Gullick, 2016; Juozapavicien, Rimdlka, & Karbonskiene, 2012; Kornhaber, Wilson, Abu‐Qamar, & McLean, 2014; Liang, Wang, Yao, Pan, & Wang, 2012; Martin, Byrnes, McGarry, Rea, & Wood, 2017; Mashreky et al, 2008; Ohrtman et al, 2018; Park, Choi, Jang, & Oh, 2008; Pfitzer et al, 2016; Shahid, Ismail, & Khan, 2018; Sproul, Malloy, & Abriam‐Yago, 2009; Titscher, Lumenta, Kamolz, Mittlboeck, & Frey, 2010; Wasiak et al, 2014; Wiechman et al, 2018; Yuxiang et al, 2012; Zamanzadeh, Valizadeh, Lotfi, Salehi, & Khalili, 2016; Zhang et al, 2014); and three studies focused on both adults and children with burns (Ahuja, Mulay, & Ahuja, 2016; Simons, Price, Kimble, & Tyack, 2016; Vetrichevvel et al, 2018).…”

“…The need to interact with family members was highlighted among both pediatric and adult burn patients (Christiaens et al, 2015; Idrees et al, 2017; Jang et al, 2017; Liang et al, 2012; Ohrtman et al, 2018; Park et al, 2008; Sproul et al, 2009; Zamanzadeh et al, 2016). After discharge, patients relied on their families to assist them in activities of daily living (Sproul et al, 2009).…”

A concept analysis of burn care in nursing

“…The 'social aspect' indicates social problems after burn injury. It is therefore important to identify the social problem along the recovery process to design community-based interventions (42). The 'spiritual aspect' calls attention to spiritual development, which plays an important part in patients' recovery.…”

A review of burn symptoms and potential novel neural targets for non-invasive brain stimulation for treatment of burn sequelae

“…In regards to mental health, symptoms of post-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety have been observed persisting after injury, creating lasting psychosocial consequences with impact on social functioning and disability [2]. About a third of burn survivors report moderate to severe psychological or social difficulties [3,4] which dramatically impact return to work, social integration, and consequently quality of life [5]. Similarly, symptoms of pain and pruritus cause equally concerning sequelae for burn patients, affecting sleep [6], daily activities [7], and quality of life [8].…”