Dominic Upton1, Jessica Morgan2, Abbye Andrews2, David B Lumenta3, Michael Giretzlehner4, Lars P Kamolz5. 1. Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK; email:d.upton@worc.ac.uk. 2. Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK. 3. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. 4. Research Unit for Medical-Informatics, RISC Software GmbH, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria; 5. Section of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, State Hospital Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Abstract
UNLABELLED: This study aimed to explore the views of burn specialists on the importance of reducing stress and pain during wound treatment. METHODS: Burns specialists were invited to complete an online survey, consisting of 10 questions about pain and stress in their patients. RESULTS: There were 141 respondents from 39 countries. Most were European (54.9%), and the majority were surgeons (71.8%). Pain-free and stress-free dressing changes were viewed as important overall ('very important:' 47.5% and 40.8%, respectively), although, in both cases, 11.3% did not view either to be important. Respondents identified 7 benefits of simple, pain-free dressing removal, although the focus was on clinical advantages rather than being patient-centered. Although most acknowledged that pain is linked with stress, disagreement levels ranged from 21.9% to 25.3%. Additionally, only 22.5% agreed that stress is related to wound healing. CONCLUSION: In general, burn specialists recognized that pain can lead to stress and that it is important to reduce stress and pain at dressing changes. Most also acknowledged that stress can affect wound healing. However, these results suggest a need for research to further explore perceptions about pain and stress, and how these perceptions can impact wound management regimes.
UNLABELLED: This study aimed to explore the views of burn specialists on the importance of reducing stress and pain during wound treatment. METHODS: Burns specialists were invited to complete an online survey, consisting of 10 questions about pain and stress in their patients. RESULTS: There were 141 respondents from 39 countries. Most were European (54.9%), and the majority were surgeons (71.8%). Pain-free and stress-free dressing changes were viewed as important overall ('very important:' 47.5% and 40.8%, respectively), although, in both cases, 11.3% did not view either to be important. Respondents identified 7 benefits of simple, pain-free dressing removal, although the focus was on clinical advantages rather than being patient-centered. Although most acknowledged that pain is linked with stress, disagreement levels ranged from 21.9% to 25.3%. Additionally, only 22.5% agreed that stress is related to wound healing. CONCLUSION: In general, burn specialists recognized that pain can lead to stress and that it is important to reduce stress and pain at dressing changes. Most also acknowledged that stress can affect wound healing. However, these results suggest a need for research to further explore perceptions about pain and stress, and how these perceptions can impact wound management regimes.