One-Year Comparison of a Community-Based Exercise Program Versus a Day Hospital-Based Exercise Program on Quality of...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric burn care
• Rehabilitation medicine
• Psychosocial health

Background:

• Long-term psychosocial functioning and mental health are critical for pediatric burn survivors.
• Exercise interventions are increasingly recognized for their role in recovery.
• Comparing different models of exercise delivery is essential for optimizing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the long-term effects of a community-based exercise program (COMBEX) versus a day hospital-based exercise program (DAYEX) on psychosocial functioning and mental health in pediatric burn survivors.
• To assess changes in quality of life up to one year postburn.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 18 pediatric burn patients, randomized into two groups: DAYEX (n=9) and COMBEX (n=9).
• Assessments were conducted at intensive care unit discharge and one year postburn.
• The Child Health Questionnaires (CHQ-Child Form [CHQ-CF87] and CHQ-Parent Form [CHQ-PF28]) were used to measure quality of life.

Main Results:

• Both DAYEX and COMBEX groups showed significant improvements in Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, Self-Esteem, Change in Health, and Family Activities from discharge to one year.
• The COMBEX group demonstrated greater improvements in Family Cohesion (CHQ-CF87) and Role/Social Limitations-Emotional, Bodily Pain, and Family Activities (CHQ-PF28) compared to DAYEX.
• Length of hospital stay was significant in the COMBEX group.

Conclusions:

• The community-based exercise program (COMBEX) is a feasible and beneficial intervention for the physical, psychosocial, and mental recovery of severely burned children.
• The COMBEX program facilitated improvements in optimizing function and health, performing at least as well as the DAYEX program.
• Larger-scale studies are recommended to validate these findings and further explore the benefits of community-based rehabilitation.