Society, family, and individual characteristics as double-edged swords in the social reintegration of Iranian female survivors from unintentional severe burns: a qualitative study of enablers and barriers

Top ten research priorities in global burns care: findings from the James Lind Alliance Global Burns Research Priority Setting Partnership

Burns are a global issue that can result in lifelong multimorbidities and disproportionately affect people in low-resource settings. Prioritising research of importance to patients and health-care professionals improves evidence-based care. This prioritisation setting partnership was undertaken in global burn care (focusing on thermal non-electrical burns) by establishing a James Lind Alliance research priority setting partnership. Over 2 years, two online multilingual surveys with patients, carers, and clinicians, 16 interviews, and a virtual priority setting workshop were conducted to identify and prioritise questions for research. Survey responses were received from participants in 88 countries (1617 survey one respondents; 630 survey two respondents). A short-list of 19 research priorities were ranked at an online workshop attended by 28 participants (14 health-care professionals, ten burn survivors, and four carers or advocates) from 15 countries to produce the final top ten research priorities. These priorities provide opportunities for researchers, funders, and clinicians to shape the future of burns research and improve burns care globally.

Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Adult Burn Patients: A Study From Urban Tertiary Care Hospitals in Pakistan

Introduction Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the main psychological conditions that develops after a traumatic event such as a burn injury. Patients often experience flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety attacks, and endless thoughts about the traumatic burn injury, which deteriorate their quality of life. These patients are usually socially isolated, have low self-esteem, and are more likely to commit suicide. Burn patients, who are particularly vulnerable, often do not receive adequate post-burn care, and psychological disorders like PTSD are often overlooked in developing nations such as Pakistan. Hence, this study investigated the prevalence of PTSD among adult burn patients in tertiary care hospitals and examined its distribution across different age groups, genders, and socioeconomic classes to highlight its overall burden as well as differences among these groups. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to July 2024, recruiting 275 adult burn patients from tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan, using non-probability convenience sampling. Non-cooperative, unwilling, unconscious, and severe burn injury patients were excluded from the study. Additionally, individuals under the age of 18 years and those whose burn injuries occurred less than a month prior were omitted, as PTSD requires the traumatic event to have happened more than a month ago for diagnosis. All the burn patients were at different stages of recovery. A provisional diagnosis of PTSD was made by using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5, a 20-item checklist that assessed the symptoms of PTSD via a five-point Likert scale. The socioeconomic status was determined via a modified form of the Kuppuswamy Socioeconomic Status Scale. Results The diagnosis of PTSD was made in 52% (143 out of 275) of people who suffered burn injuries. The prevalence of PTSD in males and females was 40% (59 out of 148 males) and 66% (84 out of 127 females), respectively. Sixty-two percent of retirement-aged and 57% of middle-aged patients were mostly affected by PTSD. Similarly, PTSD was more prevalent in lower-class patients, i.e., 69% of patients with burn injuries from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were affected. Conclusion An alarmingly high prevalence of PTSD was found in burn patients. It was more prevalent in females than in males. A greater percentage of retirement-age and middle-aged adults were diagnosed with PTSD. When compared to patients from various socioeconomic backgrounds, burn patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were found to have a higher prevalence of PTSD.

Burn injury and fear of rejection: A qualitative study

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important duties of the members of the treatment team is to pay attention to the mental, psychological, and social aspects of burn patients. One of the concerns of these patients during their stay in the hospital is the fear of rejection. The objective of this research is to examine the concept of 'fear of rejection' among patients hospitalized with burn injuries.

METHOD

This study was conducted between January 2023 and March 2024 in Hamadan, Iran, employing a qualitative content-analysis approach. The study enrolled sixteen patients, and data were collected through deep and semi-structured interviews. The data were then analyzed using the conventional content-analysis approach developed by Graneheim and Lundman.

RESULTS

A group of 16 patients, comprising an equal number of men and women, were interviewed for this study. Based on the data obtained from these interviews, negative brainstorming, frustration, fear of permanent physical disabilities, occupational and financial challenges were identified as categories; visualization of a foggy future and inability in performance of roles emerged as the two themes.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of this study, it can be said that the fear of social rejection, characterized by an inability to perform roles and the visualization of a foggy future, significantly affects the psychological and physical health of burn patients, potentially delaying their recovery. Assisting these patients in reaching their fullest potential to contribute to society post-discharge, and fostering optimism for a promising future, constitute a paramount aspect of daily care and ongoing support.

Social equity perception and public mental health: a Chinese study with panel data

BACKGROUND

Mental health is a vital part of an individual's overall health and well-being, and the relationship between society and individuals has always been a focus of academic and public attention. However, the effect of social equity perceptions on individual mental health remains unclear.

METHODS

Data were collected from 8,922 survey respondents with an average age of 47.533 years from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey 2016 and 2018. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale was used to assess mental health. A two-way fixed effects regression model was used to determine the association between social equity perception and individual mental health.

RESULTS

Individuals with higher perceptions of social equity were more likely to report better mental health ([Formula: see text] = -0.944, p < 0.01). Happiness, life satisfaction, and social trust partially play mediating roles in the relationship between social equity perception and individual mental health, while education and age play moderating roles.

CONCLUSION

Social equity perception is a vital factor that affects mental health. Public policies should focus on helping less educated and older people improve their social equity perception to improve their mental health.

Exploring the coping strategies of women after self-immolation: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Women confront a slew of issues following self-immolation, and it is crucial to examine how women react after self-immolation and live with their scars. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of exploring the coping strategies of Kurdish women following self-immolation using a qualitative methodology.

METHODS

The conventional content analysis approach was used in this qualitative investigation. Semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted with 26 Kurdish women who had self-immolated and were chosen using purposeful sampling and snowballing for this study. To reinforce the research, Guba and Lincoln's trustworthiness criteria were fulfilled.

RESULTS

The data analysis yielded 2 categories, 11 subcategories, and 85 initial codes. Positive coping is one of the categories and subcategories (spirituality, rebuilding their body, psychological rehabilitation, hiding the scars, restoring self-confidence, changing the lifestyle, forming a new life) 2- Negative coping (separation from society, neglecting the body and mind, violence and aggression, staying in the past).

CONCLUSION

Using the capacity of religious organizations to help victims of self-immolation, providing appropriate conditions and facilities to heal the scars caused by self-immolation, and facilitating access to counseling services can provide the conditions for women to better adapt after self-immolation.