Article

By using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the
focus of this study was to describe the changes associated with burns on the
lives of Brazilian burn victims during the rehabilitation phase, and to
investigate possible associations between the changes in work reported by the
participants and the percentage of total body surface area burnt, and the body
areas affected by the injury. METHOD: Participants were 18 years of age or older,
who had been discharged from hospitalisation between 6 months and 1 year before
the interview, or who underwent reconstructive surgery during the previous year,
or who were under outpatient follow-up awaiting reconstructive surgery. Data were
collected by means of semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of the 44
participants (86.4%) reported some type of changes associated with the burn
injury, the treatment, or both, regarding the following aspects: work, leisure,
relationships, religious ties, educational activities and habits (smoking, using
alcohol and drugs and dressing style). The data showed a statistically
significant association between burns on at least one of the upper limbs (with or
without hands) and changes in work. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the aspects mentioned by
the participants, such as work and leisure activities, need to be further
researched in order to improve our understanding of the impact that these changes
causes in the person's life.

Langue : ANGLAIS