+441518081136Strengthening recovery: A burn injury-focused mobile app to improve outcomes
5th International Conference on Wound Care, Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine
April 15-16, 2022 | Paris, France
Thereasa Abrams
University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
Posters & Accepted Abstracts : J Trauma Crit Care
Abstract:
In 2018, the American Burn Association reported approximately 25, 130 burn victims were admitted to verified burn centers in North America. This number is likely an under-estimation of burn cases as it does not include patient admissions from burn centers who have not been verified with the ABA. While in the burn center all of patients’ needs are met by the burn care team however after discharge, families and frequently unprepared community providers are expected to assume patient care. Inadequate post-discharge wound care may result in serious complications including infection, marginalized healing, and unplanned hospital readmissions. Burn care providers are utilizing an mHealth to supplement post-discharge care for those who live outside of the vicinity of the burn center which is believed to decrease complications that lead to unplanned hospital readmission, yet there is nothing for psych-social needs which if left unattended. The Bridge Mobile Application (App) for burn patients is the first mobile app of its kind and is tailored specifically toward the evolving bio-psycho-social recovery needs of patients during the first 90 days after discharge from a burn center. Goals of the Bridge are to decrease unplanned hospital readmissions, improve patient quality of life, and promote resilience in shortterm recovery. The Bridge mobile app provides a “bridge” between hospital and home, broadening burn-informed patient continuity of care further into the community than ever before. Features include videos depicting hand hygiene, dressing changes, and range of motion exercises for each region of the body that are available on patients’ smartphones, tablets or other electronic device 24/7. In addition, positive cognitive behavioral messages and educational content are delivered on a daily basis. The Bridge collects data reflecting exposure to the app and patient progress for pain, itch, anxiety, and mood. A pilot study for The Bridge app is currently underway at Firefighter’s Burn Center in Memphis, Tennessee. Recent publications 1. T E Abrams, et al. The Bridge: A mobile application for burn patients, Burns (2018). 2. Thereasa E Abrams, Stephen V McGarity, Psychosocial determinants of burn-related suicide: Evidence from the national violent death reporting system, Journal of Burn Care & Research, Volume 42, Issue 2, March/April 2021, Pages 305–310. 3. Thereasa E Abrams, Roberta J Ogletree, Dhitinut Ratnapradipa, Michael W Neumeister, Adult survivors’ lived experience of burns and post-burn health: A qualitative analysis. Burns. 42 (2016) 152–162
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