Burns
Volume 31, Issue 1 , Pages 37-44, February 2005

The stigma of burns:

Perceptions of burned patients’ relatives when facing discharge from hospital

  • L.A. Rossi

      Affiliations

    • Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e Especializada, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing Research Development, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Fax: +55 16 6333271.
    • ,
  • V. da S.C. Vila

      Affiliations

    • Departamento de Enfermagem e Fisioterapia da Universidade Católica de Goiás, São Paulo, Brazil
    • ,
  • M.M.F. Zago

      Affiliations

    • Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e Especializada, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing Research Development, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
    • ,
  • E. Ferreira

      Affiliations

    • Unidade de Queimados da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil

Accepted 13 July 2004.

Abstract 

The objective of this ethnographic study was to investigate the cultural meanings reported by 25 relatives of burned patients about their loved one's impending hospital discharge. Data were collected by means of participant observation and semi-structured interviews conducted during hospital visiting hours, and support group meetings with relatives. The following inter-related phases were considered in the analysis process: reading of the material and data reduction (selection of data using the objective of the study as a guide), data display, conclusion outlining, and verification. Following this process, the data were coded and similar codes were grouped into categories. It was found that the relatives of burned patients felt afraid when faced with the prospect of hospital discharge. Their descriptions reveal the family's feelings and attitudes in face of other people's reactions, and in face of the patient's own reactions in the context of possible changes in their social roles.

Keywords: Burns, Culture, Rehabilitation

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PII: S0305-4179(04)00192-5

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2004.07.006

Burns
Volume 31, Issue 1 , Pages 37-44, February 2005

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