The Effect of Peer Education on Treating Pain in Patients for Burn Debridement

Abstract

Introduction: Debridement is a daily care for burn patients that can cause severe pain due to skin damage. Pain is one of the primary side effects of burn wounds and relieving pain is a basic need for all patients. Aim: To investigate the impact of peer education on the pain level of patients for burn debridement. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial conducted from January 2014 to March 2015, consisted of 60 patients who were to undergo burn debridement. The patients in the control group received routine training regarding the methods to reduce pain and the patients in the intervention group were trained by their peers under the supervision of the researcher. Pain severity was re-evaluated in both the groups on that day after training. The data collection tool was the demographic information questionnaire and a Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS). Data were analysed using SPSS software (version 18) and descriptive-analytical tests. Results: The mean score of pain severity at the beginning of burn debridement was 6.35±2.10 in the intervention group and 5.30±1.85 in the control group. After the peer education, the mean score of pain severity was 3.30±1.78 and 4.20±1.23 in the intervention and control group, respectively (p-value=0.02). Conclusion: Peer education can significantly reduce the severity of pain associated with burn debridement. The use of non pharmacological effective techniques, such as peer education can be beneficial in relieving pain and preventing its exacerbation.

Keywords

• burn wounds
• pain management
• visual analogue pain scale