Burn pain and patients’ responses

Aim

This study was done to examine relationships between burn pain and psycho-affective responses in burned patients.

Methods

A total of 100 patients with I, II and III degree burns, who were hospitalised at the burns wards of Sina Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences from 20 March to 20 June 2008 (3 months) were selected as the sample for this study. The mean age of the subjects was 32.2 ± 13.5 years. The numerical rating scale (NRS) was employed to measure the procedural and background pain. Psycho-affective responses were assessed with a self-inventory questionnaire.

Result

The results showed that the mean of procedural pain intensity was 8.5 ± 1.8 and the mean of background pain was 5.6 ± 2.0. A significant number of patients suffered from anorexia (81%), fatigue (66%), deformity (64%), anxiety (61%), fear (57%) and acute stress disorder (46%) at rest.The psycho-affective responses of anxiety (P = 0.02), fatigue (P = 0.04), helplessness (P = 0.01), anorexia (P = 0.003), deformity (P = 0.03) and acute stress disorder (P = 0.006) were associated with pain intensity at rest.

Conclusion

According to the findings of this study, burn patients experience severe procedural pain and mild-to-moderate background pain; and psycho-affective responses of anxiety, fatigue, helplessness, anorexia and acute stress disorder were associated with background pain. The authors emphasise the need for accurate multidisciplinary assessment of pain, considering psycho-affective responses to effectively treat and manage psychological disorders in burned patients, which need to be highly individualised and frequently adjusted according to the patients’ specific needs.