Marion Doctor

Visible vs hidden scars and their relation to body esteem

This study examined the relationship among burn scarring, severity and visibility, and body esteem. Previous work addressing this question has relied on case studies and small samples. We mailed a survey to 2500 members of a national burn survivor support group. Survivors were asked to complete and

The Reliability and Validity of the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Social Comfort Questionnaire (SCQ) among an Adult Burn Survivor Sample.

In this study, 361 adult burn survivors completed the Perceived Stigmatization Questionnaire (PSQ), the Social Comfort Questionnaire (SCQ), and other measures. Both the PSQ and SCQ had good internal consistency indices. Factor analysis of the PSQ yielded 3 factors (absence of friendly behavior, confused/staring behavior, and hostile behavior). The SCQ had 1 factor. Conjoint factor analysis with measures of related constructs (body esteem, body-esteem importance, depression, social support) suggested that PSQ and SCQ measure distinct constructs. Correlations with the related psychosocial constructs and burn characteristics suggested the PSQ and SCQ have good convergent and discriminant validity. Limitations of the study are discussed.

Parent participation during painful wound care procedures

The role of the parent during painful wound care is an area of controversy among burn care professionals. Children younger than the age of 3 years may be particularly distressed by separation from the primary caretaker, thus increasing anxiety levels and reducing the capacity to cope with wound care procedures. Burn center staff at this facility were in strong disagreement regarding a change in policy that barred parent participation during hydrotherapy and dressing change. This study was conducted to assess young childrens behavioral responses to painful burn care procedures with and without a parent present to determine whether parent support enhanced the childs ability to cope by reducing observable pain responses and expression of anxiety. It was anticipated that results of the study would assist staff in reaching an objective, rational decision regarding changes in policy and procedures. Results of the study failed to show a statistically significant difference between the two comparison groups. However, the strength of clinical observations facilitated a unanimous decision to establish parent participation as a patient care option.

Burn camps and community aspects of burn care

Burn injuries can have a profound effect on the personality development and emotional stability of children, particularly those children who had preexisting pathologic conditions at the time of injury. Integration of an altered sense of self and reentry into the social arena are two challenges that children with burn injuries must face. Creative psychosocial services are of critical importance in providing support to children as they meet these challenges. School reentry programs and burn camps are presented as two services that are currently provided to facilitate the adaptation and reentry process for these children.

Body Images and Pediatric Burn Injury

Body image is a critical variable in understanding children and adolescent’s adjustment to burn injury (Bernstein, 1976; Stoddard, 1982). The primary goal of this chapter is to provide a broad theoretical, clinical, and empirical overview of the influence of body-image factors in children and adolescents’ adjustment to burn injury. However, when considering body-image adjustment we must also consider the total socioemotional adjustment of the patient and family to the burn injury; including such critical variables as social support, child temperament, existence of psychopathology, and the family’s socioeconomic status (Bernstein, 1976, 1990; Tarnow-ski, Rasnake, Gavaghan-Jones, & Smith, 1991).