“I just get scared it’s going to happen again”: A qualitative study of the psychosocial impact of pediatric burns from the child’s perspective

Rigel Paciente¹, Alix Woolard^1,2, Nicole Wickens¹, Lisa McGivern¹, Patricia de Gouveia Belinelo¹, Lisa Martin^2,3, Fiona Wood^2,4,5, Elmie Janse van Rensburg¹, Helen Milroy²,
¹Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA, Australia
²University of Western Australia, Crawley , WA, Australia
³Perth Children’s Hospital , Nedlands, WA, Australia
⁴Burns Service of Western Australia, Murdoch, WA, Australia
⁵Fiona Wood Foundation, Murdoch, WA, Australia

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries can be distressing for both the child or young person, negatively affecting their wellbeing. Pediatric burn patients are at a higher risk of developing psychopathology compared to the general population. To promote resilience and prevent psychopathology post-burn injury for pediatric burn patients, it is crucial to understand their mental health after a burn. This study aimed to understand the psychosocial impact of a burn as perceived by the pediatric burn patient.
Methods: Seven pediatric burn patients were interviewed from the Perth Metropolitan area. Interviews with pediatric patients took place online, and the patients were asked about their mental health, coping strategies, changes to lifestyle and supports following their burn injury. The interviews were transcribed and then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Three overarching themes were developed from the interviews: burn-specific impact on the child or young person, the psychological impact, and factors supporting the recovery journey. The participants in our study highlighted issues they faced during recovery, the positive and negative impacts of the injury and recovery process and provided suggestions for future opportunities to bolster resilience and promote growth for pediatric burn patients who may face similar challenges in the future.
Conclusion: Factors that improve the mental health and wellbeing of pediatric burn patients should be promoted, such as mental health and social supports, the promotion of adaptive coping mechanisms, and meeting the needs of the family. Ultimately, the implementation of trauma-focused, family-centred interventions is crucial for the psychosocial recovery of pediatric burn survivors.

Biography

Nicole is the Project Coordinator for the Childhood Trauma group at the Telethon Kids Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Health Science with First Class Honours and is passionate about prevention and early intervention in child mental and physical health. Her team are looking at childhood trauma and the ways we can identify, target, intervene and improve the lives of children and young people who have experienced trauma. She’s currently working on an intervention to improve the psychological recovery of children who experience a traumatic burn injury.