R. Thompson et al., A qualitative analysis of family member needs and concerns in the population of patients with burns, J BURN CARE, 20(6), 1999, pp. 487-496
The importance of family support to ameliorate the recovery of a patient wi
th burns has been documented in the literature. However, there is a dearth
of research that identifies family members' needs and concerns during the h
ospitalization of patients with burns. Study aims were as follows: (1) iden
tify support needs and concerns of family members of adult and pediatric pa
tients currently in a burn center and (2) explore the relationship between
family needs and the patient's severity of injury. An observational design
was used that incorporated semistructured interviews with family members 1
to 3 days after the burn. A convenience sample of family members of burn ce
nter patients (n = 97) was recruited over 9 months. Content analysis was us
ed to establish themes from interview data. Interrater reliability on codin
g of thematic units from 15% of the interviews was 86%; discrepancies were
corrected to 100%. The average family member was 42.3 years old, female, wh
ite, and at least a high school graduate. Family members concerns included
general patient concerns, physical concerns about the patient, satisfaction
of personal needs, and psychologic concerns about the patient. Major sourc
es of support were family and friends, burn center staff, and spirituality.
Family members of pediatric patients identified pain and skin graft surger
y as priority worries. Satisfaction of personal needs, financial support, a
nd information needs were greater among family members of intensive care un
it patients in comparison with step-down patients. These findings underscor
e the importance of communication and reassurance between the burn team and
the family members. Alterations to the support provided to families san be
made on the basis of study subjects' responses.