Stigma and illness uncertainty among patients with visible burn scars: A cross-sectional study

The purpose of this research was to understand the current status of stigma and illness uncertainty in patients with visible burns and explore the correlation between them. Measures to help patients alleviate shame and uncertainty in illness are also discussed. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary hospital from November 2020 to March 2021 for patients with burns on exposed parts of the face, neck, or limbs. The scales used in this study include demographic data questionnaires, the Social Impact Scale (SIS), and the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults (MUIS-A). A two-tailed independent t-test was used to evaluate the differences in the respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, stigma, and illness uncertainty. The total stigma and illness uncertainty scores of 146 patients were 57.03 ± 6.762 and 68.59 ± 12.901, respectively. Spearman correlation analysis showed that stigma was positively correlated with illness uncertainty (r = 0.398, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed a relationship between stigma and uncertainty of illness (B = 0.215, p = 0.000), itching (B = 2.555, p = 0.01), residence (B = 2.545, p = 0.029), and age (B = 0.074, p = 0.037). The stigma level of patients with visible burns increased with increasing uncertainty regarding illness. Therefore, reducing the patients' uncertainty in illness is a way to intervene in stigma.