Efficacy of Dressing by Aloe Vera Gel on Healing and Pain among Burned Patients

Abstract

Aloe Vera gel plays an important role in managing burn by rapid healing process, it increases growth factors, by collagen and proteoglycan synthesis, also it contains many important components as nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and Magnesium lactate has anti-itching and analgesic effect by inhibiting histamine-decarboxylase which controls pain level and promoting wound healing furthermore reduction of duration of patient hospitalization. The aim of the study; this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dressing by Aloe Vera gel versus conventional dressing on the healing process and pain among burned patients. Subjects & Method; design: Quasi-experimental research design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study. Research setting: The current study was conducted at burn unit and burn out patient s clinic of Shebin El-Kom Teaching Hospital, Menoufia Governorate- Egypt. Subjects; a purposive sample of 50 patients; they were divided into two equal groups 25 patients in each as follows: 1-The study group (I): dressing by Aloe Vera gel 2- The control group (II): dressing by conventional dressing or routine hospital. Tools: two tools were utilized to collect the necessary data. Tool one: interview questionnaire sheet; divided into four parts: Part one: Sociodemographic and medical data; Part two: Bio-physiological measurements (Vital signs; Patient’s Knowledge about nutrition and Laboratory investigations); Part three: Burn characters (parameters); as total body surface area (TBSA); degree of burn; presence of wound oozing; eschar (dry, black necrotic tissue); burn odor; wound redness and swelling, healing process and burn complication. Part four: Photographs. They were taken by researchers to evaluate the healing process at the beginning of the treatment, then every week until complete healing occurred. Tool two: Visual analogue pain scale. The results: most patients in study group hadn t characters of wound infection after one week of Aloe Vera gel dressing application (fourth assessment); moreover during fifth and sixth assessment all patients in the study group were free from symptoms of wound infection, while 48% in the control group had characters of wound infection by last two assessments. The rapid healing process occurred, decreased level of pain and length of hospitalization stay among the study group after dressing application by Aloe Vera gel than the control group. Conclusion: Depending on the present study results, it can be concluded that Aloe Vera gel promoted wound healing of first and second degree of burns better than traditional dressing in management methods, it also reduces pain level so lesser length of patient hospitalization stay. Recommendation: Based on the previous researches and the current study results, the researchers recommended that; use Aloe Vera gel in a dressing of the burned patient especially second unhealed or delayed. Apply research on a large number of patients with more times for follow up.