Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39180738›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2025

Navigating the trauma-The experiences of significant others supporting patients with severe burn injury: A narrative inquiry.

Elizabeth Flannery, Gillian Murphy, Kath Peters, Elizabeth Halcomb, Lucie M Ramjan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Elizabeth FlannerySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9141-8503
Gillian MurphySchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Kath PetersSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Elizabeth HalcombSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Science, Medicine & Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8099-986X
Lucie M RamjanSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7815-3005

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo explore the experiences of significant others of adult patients with severe burn injury in the Intensive Care Unit. Specifically, this study explored the strategies implemented by significant others and obstacles faced that served to protect or placed them at risk of psychological sequelae during their experience of trauma.

designA qualitative study using a Narrative Inquiry approach was undertaken.

methodsIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 participants during 2021-2022, who were a significant other of an adult patient in ICU with severe burn injury. These participants were recruited from the two major severe burns receiving hospitals in New South Wales, Australia. Participants' stories were analysed using a narrative analysis approach informed by Polkinghorne. The COREQ guideline was used in reporting.

resultsAs each participant navigated the traumatic experience of supporting a loved one with a severe burn injury, they faced unique obstacles to maintaining their own mental health and well-being. They employed strategies that were likely to protect them on this journey. Psychologically protective factors included taking back control, coexisting in the trauma with the patient and forging a trauma bond. These strategies effectively contained the trauma and protected others (such as children, extended family and friends). While this allowed significant others an element of control, it also effectively isolated them from the support of family and friends.

conclusionThis study shows that significant others may also experience personal trauma and may not recognize this as they focus all their attention on supporting the patient with the burn injury. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: With increased awareness of both protective and risk factors, support can be directed towards enhancing protective factors and addressing risk factors, thereby decreasing their impact and improving support for significant others. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Indexed as

BurnsFamilyAdaptation, PsychologicalAdultAgedFemaleHumansIntensive Care UnitsMaleMiddle AgedNarrationNew South WalesQualitative ResearchSocial SupportICUpsychologicalsevere burn injurysignificant othersupporttrauma

Identifiers

PMID39180738
PMCPMC11896915

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.