Abstract
Investigators assert that the ward behavior of pediatric burn victims is a variant of the “ICU syndrome”. Given the lack of data from pediatric burn care units (PBCU's) and the differences which exist between these patient units and PICU's systematic observational data were collected on 40 PBCU patients. An observational coding scheme was used to code patient and staff responses for a total of 1919 observations. Patients were often observed (49% of observations) in burn unit locations (e.g., playroom) outside of patient rooms. Children were most often awake (75%) with neutral affect (61%). Positive affect and verbal-motor distress were noted during 18% and 24% of observations, respectively. Patient-staff verbal interactions were frequent (>50%) while physical interactions were less common (8%). Other individuals were often observed in close proximity to patients (nurses-33%, other patients-33%, family-16%, psychosocial staff-11%, child life-6%, & physicians-4%). Children engaged in a variety of ward activities (playing-32%, walking-10%, TV-8%, & reading-2%) and received medical treatments during 5% of observations. These data contrast markedly with those available from pediatric ICU studies. Children on PBCU's are more alert, physically active, exposed to more environmental stimulation, and exhibit more positive affect that their ICU counterparts. Results indicate negative responses and poor adaptation of children to PBCU's environments may be exaggerated.
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Tarnowski, K., Rasnake, L., Mulick, J. et al. PEDIATRIC BURN VICTIMS: AN ECOBEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 185 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00111
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00111