Parents’ memories and appraisals after paediatric burn injury: a qualitative study

Figures & data

Table 1. Child- and burn characteristics (n = 18).

	M	SD	Median	Range
Age (years)	6.9	5.8	3.6	0–16
TBSA (%)	9.7	7.6	7.5	3–34
Length of hospital stay (days)	18.3	13.8	11.0	4–50
	n	%
Gender child (male, female)	8, 10	44, 56
≥ 1 surgery during initial hospitalisation	10	56
Burn type
Scald	12	67
Flame/fire	5	28
Electrical	1	5

Note: TBSA = estimated percentage total body surface area affected by partial- or full-thickness burns.

Table 2. Questions included in interview guide.

Memories and appraisal of burn event and hospitalisation
	How do you reflect on the accident that caused the burn injury/the hospitalisation period/the wound care procedures?
	Which moments do you recall when you think about the burn injury/the hospitalisation period/the wound care procedures? Which emotions do you experience when you recall these moments?
	Recalling the accident and the hospitalisation, can you identify the worst part in your memory?
	Have you experienced, or do you still experience intrusive memories? (e.g. vivid, involuntary memories of the events that happened, that suddenly arise. These are not the moments in which you voluntary or deliberately think about the events. Intrusive memories may take various forms, for example visual, auditory or olfactory)
Impact of the injury
	Can you describe your experience of the period after discharge?
	Can you describe how the injury has impacted you?
	Have you noticed changes in your child after the injury?
	Have you noticed changes in the family after the injury?
	To what extent do you avoid reminders of the injury?
	To what extent do you talk about the injury with others (including the child)?
Coping with the injury
	What helped you cope with your child’s injury?
	How did you support your child in the aftermath of the injury?

Figure 1. Integrative model of parents’ experience of paediatric burn injury. The upper part reflects the phases related to paediatric medical trauma. Memories, appraisals and emotions may relate to each of these phases. Dotted lines represent the interrelatedness of the constructs. The potential intrusive nature of memories concerning the threat of the injury is reflected by the star-shaped outline.