SELF-PERCIEVED IMPROVEMENT AMONG BURN SURVIVORS RECEIVING PHYSICAL THERAPY TREATEMENT IN HOSPITALS OF LAHORE.

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries are a major cause of long-term disability, disfigurement, and psychological distress worldwide, particularly affecting individuals in low-resource settings. These injuries often result in functional limitations and reduced quality of life, necessitating timely and effective rehabilitation. Physical therapy plays a central role in the recovery process, focusing on restoring mobility, minimizing complications such as contractures, and promoting psychological well-being.

Objective: To evaluate the self-perceived improvement among burn survivors undergoing physical therapy treatment in hospitals across Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 130 burn survivors receiving physiotherapy at seven tertiary hospitals in Lahore. A self-structured questionnaire containing 17 validated items (content validity index: 0.93) was used to assess participants’ perceptions of improvement in areas including pain, mobility, scar healing, daily activities, and psychological well-being. Participants aged 7 to 75 years were included using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected via self-administered or interviewer-assisted questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Azra Naheed Medical College.

Results: Out of 130 participants, 69 (53.1%) were male and 61 (46.9%) were female, with a mean age of 29.08 ± 15.53 years. A total of 95.4% reported satisfaction with physical therapy, and 91.6% noted a decrease in pain. Improved scar healing was observed in 81.5% of cases, while 96.1% reported enhanced mobility. However, only 41.5% could independently perform daily activities, and 42.3% were able to bathe without assistance, highlighting ongoing challenges in functional independence.

Conclusion: The majority of burn survivors reported positive perceptions of physiotherapy outcomes, especially in pain relief, mobility, and scar healing. Nonetheless, a notable portion continued to experience limitations in daily functional tasks, indicating a need for more individualized, task-specific rehabilitation approaches.