Holistic treatment approaches for individuals with traumatic burn injuries: A targeted literature review
Sarah Heming, Anna Kell
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.1 million burns in the United States require medical attention each year, with almost 15,000 individuals dying from these burns or associated infections. While burn mortality rates are concerning, multiple related factors decrease patients’ quality of life, persisting long-beyond the point of return to physiologic stability. Historically, a gap in the research exists pertaining to holistic care of burn patients. Most burn research focuses on physiological treatments, often neglecting other domains of healing such as the emotional, psychological, spiritual, sociocultural, and economic domains. The aim of this targeted literature review is to identify phenomena experienced by patients following traumatic burn injuries and to explore current techniques to encourage multi-dimensional healing in these populations. Searches of the databases CINAHL and PubMed yielded numerous articles, though nine were ultimately selected for inclusion. Included articles focus on burn victims’ experiences or clinically tested interventions to promote healing, excluding interventions with short-term duration and effects. The major findings of the included studies suggest that an individual’s personality traits greatly contribute to their ability to cope. Spirituality typically increases among the patients and their families post-injury with pastoral care being utilized more by patients who have increased length of stay and a larger proportion of affected body surface area. The primary limitation of this review includes a minimal selection of articles which aligned with the inclusion criteria. This synthesis of research can be utilized by healthcare personnel to promote a return to holistic wellness among populations who have experienced traumatic burn injuries. Future research should expand on the current body of burn-care knowledge, while emphasizing interventions that promote a multidimensional approach to wellness.
Sarah Heming is a graduating senior nursing student at Lander University who is moving to Simpsonville following graduation. Sarah is a member of the Lander Honors College, the LU Student Nurses’ Association, the Environmental Science Student Organization, the National Student Nurses’ Organization, and Sigma Theta Tau. During her time at Lander, Sarah has worked as a personal care aide over three summers, spent two spring breaks volunteering with the Samaritan’s Purse, and participated in a nursing externship with Nightingale’s Nursing and Attendants.