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- Bäckström, Josefin, 1977-
(författare)
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Family Members of Patients with Burns : Experiences of a Distressful Episode
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A severe burn is a trauma associated with long lasting consequences, not only for the survivor but also for the family. Although it is recognized that family members are central in providing social support for the patients, previous research has not focused extensively on this group. The aims of this thesis were to increase knowledge about psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in family members of patients with burns, as well as to explore their experiences of burn care and rehabilitation. The research questions were approached using quantitative and qualitative methods.The results showed that most family members demonstrate normal to mild levels of psychological symptoms, while one third demonstrate moderate to severe symptoms during care. The symptoms decreased over time and could be predicted to a certain degree by early symptoms.Further, family members’ report of HRQoL is similar to that of the general population. An improvement is seen over time and HRQoL could be predicted in part by earlier life events and psychological symptoms.Family members’ experiences were explored in an interview study. Qualitative content analysis revealed that the time in hospital is stressful, although there were experiences of a positive character. Family members might benefit from being cared for in a more individualized way. The communication between health care providers and the family members could be improved.Finally, a qualitative content analysis revealed that family members’ experiences and views concerning support is highly individual. There were experiences of sufficient support as well as lack of professional support. Treatment of family members should be modified according to personal circumstances, and it is important to actively include family members in the care process, both before and after discharge.In summary, being a family member of a burn survivor is a distressful experience, not only during care but in many cases also after discharge. The treatment of family members within burn care should be individualized. Some persons are more vulnerable than others and it might be possible to identify those in need of support while care is still ongoing.
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- Bäckström, Josefin, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life in family members of patients with burns
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Burn Care & Research. - 1559-047X .- 1559-0488. ; 35:3, s. 243-250
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A severe burn not only affects the patients, but may also have a great impact on the lives of family members. It is known that family members of patients with burns experience psychological distress, but health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been studied in this group. The aim was to study predictors of HRQoL in family members of patients with burns. Forty-four family members of adult patients treated in a burn center, between 2000 and 2007, completed questionnaires during care, and at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. HRQoL was assessed with the EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D), which consists of the dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression. The questionnaire generates an EQ-5D index and a visual analog scale (VAS) score. Overall, the EQ-5D index was similar to that of the general population. A slight improvement in HRQoL was found in the VAS scores and in the anxiety/depression dimension over time. In regression models, HRQoL was primarily predicted by earlier life events, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and HRQoL, assessed during the patients’ hospitalization. In summary, HRQoL assessed with VAS scores increased slightly during the first year postburn, and early screening for life events and psychological symptoms, and HRQoL might be useful in identifying family members in need of support.
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- Bäckström, Josefin, et al.
(författare)
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Prediction of psychological symptoms in family members of patients with burns 1 year after injury
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 69:2, s. 384-393
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimTo report a study of predictors of psychological symptoms in family members of patients with burns.BackgroundFamily members are important as a source of social support for patients undergoing prolonged rehabilitation. Little is known about psychological symptoms of family members of patients with burns, especially in the long term.DesignThe design of the study was prospective and longitudinal.MethodsForty-four family members of adult patients treated in a burn centre between 2000-2007 completed questionnaires during care and at 3, 6, and 12 months after injury. Psychological symptoms were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Predictors for anxiety and depression were explored in regression analyses.ResultsThe mean scores indicated normal to mild symptoms in general. Moderate and severe symptom levels during care and at 12 months were demonstrated on the anxiety subscale by 15/44 and 5/39, respectively, and on the depression subscale by 5/44 and 0/39 of the family members, respectively. In the final regression models, the primary predictor was psychological symptoms at the previous assessment. Other predictors were previous life events, age, and the coping strategy avoidance.ConclusionFamily members of patients with burns demonstrate normal to mild levels of psychological symptoms that decrease over time. One-third show moderate to severe anxiety symptoms during care and may benefit from counselling. Previous symptoms predict later symptoms, indicating that screening with a validated instrument is useful. The results provide guidance for nurses in assessing and planning adequate interventions for family members.
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| 5. |
- Low, Aili J. F., et al.
(författare)
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Psychiatric morbidity predicts perceived burn-specific health 1 year after a burn
- 2012
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Ingår i: General Hospital Psychiatry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0163-8343 .- 1873-7714. ; 34:2, s. 146-152
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective:Individual factors such as gender, age, coping and personality traits and injury-related factors such as injury severity have been implicated as risk factors for poor perceived health after burns. As psychiatric morbidity is common in individuals who sustain burns, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of preinjury psychiatric problems on perceived health after injury.Method:A total of 85 consecutive patients treated at a national burn center were prospectively assessed: the patients were interviewed during acute care with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders. One year after injury, perceived health was assessed with the Bum-Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B). Multiple regression analyses were used to evaluate the predictive effect of preinjury psychiatric history on perceived postinjury health.Results:Psychiatric morbidity, especially mood disorders, affected outcome for six of the nine BSHS-B subscales, with the covariates mainly being the length of hospital stay and total burn size.Conclusion: The results show that a history of preinjury psychiatric disorders, especially during the year before the burn, affects perceived outcome regarding both physical and psychological aspects of health 1 year after injury and that it is a risk factor for worse perceived outcome.
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| 8. |
- Orwelius, Lotti, et al.
(författare)
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Long term health-related quality of life after burns is strongly dependent on pre-existing disease and psychosocial issues and less due to the burn itself
- 2013
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Ingår i: Burns. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4179 .- 1879-1409. ; 39:2, s. 229-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is reduced after a burn, and is affected by coexisting conditions. The aims of the investigation were to examine and describe effects of coexisting disease on HRQoL, and to quantify the proportion of burned people whose HRQoL was below that of a reference group matched for age, gender, and coexisting conditions.MethodA nationwide study covering 9 years and examined HRQoL 12 and 24 months after the burn with the SF-36 questionnaire. The reference group was from the referral area of one of the hospitals.ResultsThe HRQoL of the burned patients was below that of the reference group mainly in the mental dimensions, and only single patients were affected in the physical dimensions. The factor that significantly affected most HRQoL dimensions (n = 6) after the burn was unemployment, whereas only smaller effects could be attributed directly to the burn.ConclusionPoor HRQoL was recorded for only a small number of patients, and the decline were mostly in the mental dimensions when compared with a group adjusted for age, gender, and coexisting conditions. Factors other than the burn itself, such as mainly unemployment and pre-existing disease, were most important for the long term HRQoL experience in these patients.
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| 9. |
- Sveen, Josefin, 1976-, et al.
(författare)
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A prospective longitudinal study of posttraumatic stress disorder symptom trajectories after burn injury
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Trauma. - 0022-5282 .- 1529-8809. ; 71:6, s. 1808-1815
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Psychologic problems are common after burns, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are some of the most prevalent. Risk factors for PTSD have been identified, but little is known about the onset and course of these symptoms. The objective was to investigate whether there are different PTSD symptom trajectories after burns.Methods: Ninety-five adults with burns were enrolled in a prospective study from in-hospital treatment until 12 months after burn. Symptoms of PTSD were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and scores at 3, 6, and 12 months after the burn were used in a cluster analysis to detect trajectories. The trajectories were compared regarding known risk factors for PTSD using non-parametric analysis of variance.Results: Four clusters were identified: (1) resilient, with low levels of PTSD symptoms that decreased over time; (2) recovery, with high levels of symptoms that gradually decreased; (3) delayed, with moderate symptoms that increased over time; and (4) chronic, with high levels of symptoms over time. The trajectories differed regarding several risk factors for PTSD including life events, premorbid psychiatric morbidity, personality traits, avoidant coping, in-hospital psychologic symptoms, and social support. The resilient trajectory consistently had fewer of the risk factors and differed the most from the chronic trajectory.Conclusions: There are subgroups among patients with burns that have different patterns of PTSD symptom development. These findings may have implications for clinical practice, such as the timing of assessment and the management of patients who present with these symptoms.
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| 10. |
- Sveen, Josefin, 1976-
(författare)
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Posttraumatic Stress and Cognitive Processes in Patients with Burns
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A severe burn is one of the most traumatic injuries a person can experience. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is relatively common after burns, and can be devastating for the individual’s possibilities for recovery. The principal aims were to gain knowledge regarding posttraumatic stress symptoms and cognitive processes after burn and to evaluate methods for assessing symptoms of PTSD up to one year after burn. The psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) were examined. The results indicate that the IES-R is a valid screening instrument for measuring PTSD symptoms in patients with burns and it can be used during hospitalisation to identify resilient individuals. The pattern of PTSD symptoms over time was also investigated. Four distinct trajectories of PTSD symptoms were identified, i.e. four groups of patients with significantly different onsets and courses. The trajectories differed in the expected direction regarding several risk factors associated with PTSD symptoms. Several previously known risk factors for PTSD symptoms were also identified including burn severity, psychiatric history, previous life events, early psychological symptoms, neuroticism-related personality traits, avoidant coping and low social support. The risk factors correspond well with those reported in the international trauma literature, which strengthens the findings in this thesis. Finally, using the emotional Stroop task at one year post burn it was found that burn-specific attentional bias was common and associated with more previous life events, more perceived life threat, larger burns and higher levels of PTSD symptoms. In summary, there are individual differences in the development and course of PTSD symptoms after burn and attentional bias is a common cognitive phenomenon related to these symptoms. The findings also support the use of the IES-R as a screening instrument for PTSD symptoms in patients with burns.
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