The study’s goal was to use the LIBRE Profile to examine whether or not there was a correlation between burn severity and community engagement. Strong clinical evidence shows that burn severity is a reliable predictor of mortality following a burn injury. It’s a common consideration when deciding when to start treatment, but the evidence is mixed on how it affects patients’ quality of life. The data here are from a cross-sectional study of adults who have survived burns and were subsequently interviewed. Between October 2014 and December 2015, 601 burn survivors with 5% TBSA or burns to vital areas provided self-reported data.
Small burn (≤40% TBSA burned) and major burn (>40% TBSA burned) individuals were compared for sociodemographic factors. After controlling for factors such as gender, employment, the severity of burns, and length of time since injury, ordinary least squares regression models were used to analyze the correlation between burn area and LIBRE Profile scale scores. There were 562 people in the data set who had burn size information. Large burns (>40% TBSA burn) were reported by 42% of respondents, while 58% reported minor burns (TBSA ≤40%).
Large burn patients had a trend toward lower scores on the Social Activities and Work & Employment scales (P < 0.05) and higher scores on the Family & Friends scale (P < 0.05) in adjusted regression models. Individual items on the Social Activities and Work & Employment scales were significantly lower for participants with burns, with more than 40% TBSA (P<0.05). Selected components of Work & Employment and Social Activities were found to be adversely correlated with increasing burn size, while parts of Family & Friends Relationships were positively correlated with increasing burn size. Longitudinal research is needed to evaluate and comprehend the societal effects of burn injuries in adult populations.
Source: journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Abstract/2022/12000/The_Impact_of_Burn_Size_on_Community.17.aspx
