Oh Hyunjin, Boo Sunjoo
Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea.
Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea.
Burns. 2017 Sep;43(6):1212-1217. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2017.03.009. Epub 2017 Apr 8.
In this study, we examined the plausibility of the mediating effect of the levels of patient scar assessment on the relationship between burn severity measured with total body surface area and burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) among patients with burns in South Korea.
In this cross sectional descriptive study, we collected data from 100 burn patients in three burn centers specializing in burn care in South Korea. Patient scar assessment, burn specific HRQL, and burn-related characteristics were self-reported with anonymous, paper-based surveys.
The findings showed a positive correlation between burn severity, patient scar assessment, and HRQL in burn patients. The evidence of this paper is that quality of life after burns more determined by scar characteristics than burn severity.
In the light of the poor HRQL in burn patients, the results of this study support that improving scar status could improve patients' HRQL. Health care providers should keep in mind that patients' perspectives of their scars would be a great indicator of their HRQL, so the providers' focus should be on intensive scar management intervention in their care.
在本研究中，我们探讨了韩国烧伤患者的患者瘢痕评估水平在以体表面积衡量的烧伤严重程度与烧伤特异性健康相关生活质量（HRQL）之间关系中的中介作用的合理性。
在这项横断面描述性研究中，我们从韩国三个专门从事烧伤护理的烧伤中心的100名烧伤患者中收集了数据。患者瘢痕评估、烧伤特异性HRQL和烧伤相关特征通过匿名纸质调查问卷进行自我报告。
研究结果显示烧伤患者的烧伤严重程度、患者瘢痕评估和HRQL之间存在正相关。本文的证据是烧伤后的生活质量更多地由瘢痕特征而非烧伤严重程度决定。
鉴于烧伤患者的HRQL较差，本研究结果支持改善瘢痕状况可提高患者的HRQL。医疗保健提供者应牢记，患者对其瘢痕的看法将是其HRQL的一个重要指标，因此提供者在护理中应将重点放在强化瘢痕管理干预上。
