Improving a Peer Support Group for Burn Survivors

Background: Approximately forty-thousand people in the United States are hospitalized for burn-related injuries each year. An estimated one-quarter of burn survivors experience depression, anxiety, physical limitations, body-image distress, and social isolation beyond one-year post-injury. Peer support and social engagement provide opportunities to improve burn survivor outcomes, quality of life, and community reintegration. The purpose of this project was to identify the needs of burn survivors and improve the quality of a peer support group for burn survivors. Methods: This quality improvement project used a retrospective PROMIS-29 assessment tool and pre-satisfaction survey to identify the needs of the burn survivors and assess participants' satisfaction with ongoing support groups. Resultant data framed the design and implementation of a structured support group for burn survivors. We used follow-up surveys and the PROMIS-29 tool to evaluate the session and the participants' progress.Results: The pre-intervention participants totaled eight, and the post-intervention participants equaled three. Retrospective PROMIS-29 scores revealed physical concerns (100%, n=8), anxiety (50%, n=4), and depression and social isolation (37.5%, n=3). Post-intervention group satisfaction scores were higher for improving depression, anxiety, and overall satisfaction with 100% (n=3) being somewhat satisfied for depression and anxiety, and 66.7% (n=2) reporting very satisfied for social participation and overall satisfaction. Stakeholder feedback suggested the structured group session would likely be more feasible in a closed versus open enrollment peer support group to promote trust and group cohesion.Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the PROMIS-29 is useful for identifying the needs of burn survivors and guiding the development of a structured peer support group. The next quality improvement phase of this project requires developing successful strategies for recruitment, retention, and improved attendance through peer supporter led outreach and provider referrals. With increased group attendance, future projects could be implemented in 6 to 12-week closed-enrollment cycles.