Effect of burn rehabilitation program on improving quality of life (QoL) for hand burns patients: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Background

Burn injuries, including hands are one of the most devastating injuries. Hand burns do not often play a major role in the mortality. But, they represent a huge problem that may eventually lead to chronic disabilities, lifelong impairment, and significant functional and occupational limitations. These comorbidities can negatively affect a patient's quality of life (QoL) besides, making re-integration into society is difficult. This study aims to investigate the effect of our designated burn rehabilitation program on improving quality of life of hand burns patients.

Methods

A randomized controlled study was conducted for 12 months at Mansoura University Burn Center. It included 60 adult patients with hand burns who were randomly divided and assigned to a study and control groups. Both groups underwent basic rehabilitation. A newly designed program was implemented for the study group. Data were collected using three tools; bio-socio demographic characteristics, the Burn Health Knowledge Questionnaire, and the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). The quality of life of patients with hand burns was evaluated three times.

Results

One month and three months after implementing the burn rehabilitation program, the total mean scores for the QoL of patients in the study group improved from 31.1 ± 11.3 to 118.5 ± 21.3 and 135.4 ± 24.3, respectively (P < 0.001). In addition, the changes in QoL of the patients in the control group significantly improved from 24.8 ± 12.1 to 57.6 ± 19.1 and 87.5 ± 23.8, respectively (P < 0.001). Despite this steady improvement in the control group, the mean scores on the QoL sub-scales and total mean scores remained lower than those in the study group.

Conclusions

Based on the results obtained in the current study, the design and implemention of a burn rehabilitation programme based on clinical knowledge improves the quality of life of patients with burns. Therefore, this program is recommended for use early as a part of the treatment process for patients with burns.

Level of Evidence: Level I, risk/prognostic study.