TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - "Managing uncertainty": experiences of family members of burn patients from injury occurrence to the end-of-life period
JO  - Burns: journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
A1  - Bayuo, Jonathan
A1  - Bristowe, Katherine
A1  - Harding, Richard
A1  - Agbeko, Anita Eseenam
A1  - Baffour, Prince Kyei
A1  - Agyei, Frank Bediako
A1  - Wong, Frances Kam Yuet
A1  - Allotey, Gabriel
A1  - Agbenorku, Pius
A1  - Hoyte-Williams, Paa Ekow
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - BACKGROUND: Although mortality rates associated with burns have decreased, there is still a significant number of persons who may not survive severe forms of the injury and thus, undergo comfort/end of life care. The experiences of family members of persons whose injuries are deemed unsurvivable remain minimally explored and there is a general lack of practice guidelines and recommendations to support them at the end-of-life period. <br><br>AIM: To explore the experiences of family members whose relatives died in the burn unit to inform the development of practice recommendations. <br><br>METHODS: Qualitative description was employed for this study. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 23 family members of injured persons who died in the burn unit. Face to face semi-structured interviews were conducted and followed up with telephone interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis performed inductively. <br><br>RESULTS: Three themes emerged: reactions following injury occurrence, navigating through the experience, and managing uncertainties about survival. The sudden nature of the injury led to feelings of self-blame, guilt, helplessness, and grief and these escalated at the end of life. As the family members journeyed through their uncertainties regarding the outcomes of care, they had a feeling of being a part of the patient's suffering. Family members received little professional support in coming to terms with their loss in the post-bereavement period. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Family members experience distress following the occurrence of burns and at the endof-life period. Practice recommendations should focus on communication, bereavement, and post-bereavement support.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0305-4179
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2021.02.009
ID  - ref1
ER  -