Community Integration Outcome After Burn Injury

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Return to work

Often, the long-term goal of a burn rehabilitation program is return to work because this indicates an achievement of significant community participation. In a multicenter study, Brych and colleagues6 determined that among individuals with burn injuries who were employed outside of the home at the time of their burn injury, the average time off work was 17 weeks. The study reports that 66% of the subjects were employed at the 6-month follow-up and 90% had returned to work at 2 years after the

Return to school

In the pediatric population with burn injuries, it is important to focus on the transition back to school. In a study by Staley and colleagues,21 children admitted with burn injuries, with an average of 25.9% TBSA burn, returned to school, on average, fewer than 8 days after discharge from the hospital. In this study, 34% of the children had an in-person school reentry visit by a member of the burn team, and, in cases in which a school visit was not possible, the transition back to school was

Summary

It is important to focus on community integration, including return to work and school, early during treatment after burn injuries. A careful analysis of the potential barriers to return to activities can help focus a treatment team and provide appropriate support for a return to work or school plan. Psychological intervention is often an important component of a return to work or school plan. Vocational rehabilitation counselors and school reentry coordinators are valuable assets to

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References (24)

  • S.B. Brych et al.

    Time off work and return to work rates after burns: systematic review of the literature and a large two-center series

    J Burn Care Rehabil

    (2001)
  • J.C. Schneider et al.

    Barriers impacting employment after burn injury

    J Burn Care Res

    (2009)
  • Cited by (22)

    • Mediators and moderators of the relationship between body image and community integration among burn survivors

      2022, Burns
      Citation Excerpt :

      Another study found that more social support from friends and family is associated with better body image and less depressive symptoms in adolescents or young adults with burns [21]. Social support is highly important in burn recovery, but so is community integration due to its focus on functional recovery rather than emotional [22]. We hypothesized that perceived social stigma, symptoms of depression, PTSD, and posttraumatic growth might influence the relationship between community integration and social stigma.

    • Coping strategies, social support, and mindfulness improve the psychological well-being of Jordanian burn survivors: A descriptive correlational study

      2022, Burns
      Citation Excerpt :

      The positive effect of mindfulness, social support, and coping strategies have been highlighted in several studies; however, no study has assessed these variables and observed their positive effect on patients with burn injuries. Coping strategies have been recognized as critical factors in psychological adjustment after both major and minor burn injuries [25,26]. Accumulating evidence suggests that active problem-solving, positive reframing, and emotional social support are related to a better quality of life among burn patients [27].

    • Postacute Care Setting Is Associated With Employment After Burn Injury

      2019, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
      Citation Excerpt :

      Employment is a particularly important outcome after an injury and after PAC. For many within and beyond the burn community, return to work represents significant community participation and constitutes a major milestone in recovery.26 A number of meta-analyses, literature reviews, and studies of the general population have established that employed individuals are healthier than those who are unemployed.27-29

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    This work was supported by funds from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education.

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