The Effect of Short-Term Training Course by Nurses on Body Image in Patients with Burn Injuries

BACKGROUND Burn is the fourth most common cause of trauma worldwide and is the fourth among the injuries and surgeries requiring medical care. This study was designed to determine the effect of a short-term training course by nurses on body image in patients with burn injuries. METHODS This study was a semi-experimental single-group survey assessing before and after interventions. Totally, 130 subjects (65 women and 65 men) were enrolled. The training course was held in 3 sessions of two hours. The contents of the group training course (a group of 5 people) were in relation to the body image and the factors affecting it, and the ways to improve the body image. The data collection instrument was the satisfaction with appearance scale (SWAP). RESULTS The mean scores of the body image of patients before and after the intervention were 49.44 +/- 11.39 and 41.63 +/- 11.89, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean scores of body image before and after educational interventions (T=6.013, P <= 0.001). The mean score of body image in women before and after intervention was 49.2 +/- 10.9 and 41.2 +/- 11.65, respectively (T=4.51, P <= 0.000). The mean score of body image in men before and after intervention was 49.6 +/- 11.89 and 42.07 +/- 12.19, respectively (T=4.51, P <= 0.000). CONCLUSION Short-term courses held by nurses were shown to have a significant role in improving the body image of burn patients.