Post Trauma Stress Disorder, Pain and Coping Strategies among Burn Patients

Ragab El Sebaie, Safia; Abd Elkareem Moghazy, Naglaa; Elsayed Abdelfatah, Azza

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.201925

Post Trauma Stress Disorder, Pain and Coping Strategies among Burn Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Lecturer of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt

² Lecturer of Medical –Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Zagazig University, Egypt

10.21608/ejhc.2021.201925

Abstract

Background: Survivors of severe burns are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), persistent pain, and depression. Failure to cope with trauma leads to psychological problems. This study aim was conducted to assess the relationships between Post Trauma Stress Disorder symptoms, pain, and coping strategies among burn patients. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Al-Ahrar Hospital and Hehia Central Burns Hospital for burns at Al-Sharkia Governorate in Egypt on 73 burned patients. A structured interview questionnaire, the Revised Impact of Event Scale, Numeric pain rating scale, and Coping Strategy Inventory scale were used in data collection from October 2019 to April 2020. Results: The study findings showed that 95.9% of studied patients display symptoms of PTSD, 47.9% of them had either severe or moderate pain, 65.8% of burn patients were coping with the trauma of burn injury used disengagement coping strategies. Coping strategies are negatively correlated with post trauma stress disorder (PTSD) (r=-0.257) and pain (r=-0.244). Meanwhile, PTSD had positive correlation with pain (r= 0.378). Multivariate analysis revealed that engagement coping strategies and percent of total burn surface area were the statistically significant independent predictors of PTSD; while the independent negative predictor of patients' coping was pain intensity. Conclusion: The incidence of PTSD among burn patients is high; as well as nearly half of patients had either severe or moderate pain. Disengagement coping strategies are mostly used by burn patients. Moreover, increase pain intensity, resulting in exacerbates PTSD symptoms and decrease coping strategies in burn patients. Recommendations: Psychological intervention programs to improve positive coping strategies and decrease PTSD. As well as , Applying evidence based non pharmacological pain management methods besides pharmacological to reduce pain among burn patients.

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