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Experiences of paediatric burn patients and their caregivers on burn management at Ghana's premier burns centre: A
Alberta Amissah Nyarko1, Natalie Benjamin-Damons2, Sonti Pilusa2
1Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Witwatersrand, WITS, Private Bag 3, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa; National Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Centre (NRPS & BC) korle Bu Teaching Hospital, P.O.Box KB77, Accra Ghana.
Insights
Paediatric burn patients and caregivers in Ghana reported high satisfaction with care. Key improvements needed include pain management, scar/itch relief, and school reintegration support for children.
Area of Science:
- Paediatric burn care
- Qualitative research
- Patient experience
Background:
- Paediatric burns significantly impact children and families, necessitating specialized care.
- Understanding patient and caregiver experiences is vital for improving burn management and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore paediatric burn patients' and caregivers' experiences with in-hospital management and post-hospitalization needs.
- Focus on Ghana's premier burn center.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study with 12 paediatric burn patients (aged 8-17) and 12 caregivers.
- Data collected via semi-structured interviews.
- Reflexive thematic analysis used for data interpretation.
Main Results:
- Four key themes identified: burn causes/pathways, reflections on management, outcomes/post-hospitalization needs, and suggestions for improvement.
- High satisfaction with burn management and healthcare professionals noted.
- Areas for improvement include procedural pain, itchiness, scarring, and school integration.
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate high satisfaction but highlight needs for standardized pain management protocols.
- Targeted interventions for scar and itch relief are recommended.
- Structured psychosocial support and research on intervention effectiveness are crucial for paediatric burn care.
Background:
Paediatric burn injuries have a significant impact on the lives of children and their families, requiring specialised care and management. Understanding the unique experiences of paediatric burn patients and their caregivers is crucial for improving burn management strategies and enhancing patient outcomes.
Objectives:
This study explored the experiences of paediatric burn patients and their caregivers with regard to in -hospital management and post-hospitalization needs at Ghana's premier burn centre.
Methodology:
A qualitative study was conducted involving twelve paediatric burn patients aged 8-17 years (median age = 8.5 years; IQR = 7.0-10.0) and 12 caregivers (median age = 42.0 years; IQR = 34.3-46.5), all treated at a burns centre in Ghana from 2020 to the present. Semi-structured interview guides were used to gather data, and reflexive thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes.
Results:
Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) causes and pathways of burns, (2) reflections on burns management, (3) outcome and post-hospitalisation needs, and (4) suggestions for improving burn care.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight high satisfaction with burn management and healthcare professionals at Ghana's premier burn centre. However, areas of improvement include procedural pain management, addressing persistent itchiness and scarring, and school integration of children post-hospitalisation. These results call for the development and implementation of standardized pain management protocols, targeted interventions for scar and itch relief, and structured psychosocial support for paediatric patients. Future research should also assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
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