Factors Influencing Long Term Adjustment Following a Burn Injury

Improved survival rates in the burn population have created an additional problem of increased associated morbidity. Many problems involved in a burn injury predispose the individual to later adjustment problems. A burn can cause gross alterations in the patient\u27s physical appearance, mobility, body functioning, work capacity, self-esteem, and level of independence. Members of the burn team need to institute measures which will help promote optimal quality of life by facilitating post-burn adjustment in these severely injured patients. Current research literature was reviewed to identify factors which would positively influence patient adjustment following a burn. Evidence indicated that burn severity was not a consistent predictor of later adjustment. The presence of pre-injury psychopathology, and use of avoidance and regressive coping behaviors were the most consistently non-disputed factors correlated with maladjustment. The adjustment predictive value of disfigurement, gender, and level of disability was less consistent. Factors identified by some researchers as positively influencing adjustment were: participation in social and recreational activities, use of effective coping strategies, social support, time, lesser degrees of deformity or disability, absence of psychopathology, and avoidance of dependent/regressive behavior. The majority of investigations centered on the adjustment process itself. The future obligation is then to test interventions which best support the above mentioned factors. It is essential that a means is found to enhance the long term functioning of burn victims as well as increase survival