Investigation of psychological distress levels and social appearance anxiety levels of burn patients after discharge

This study is a descriptive and relationship-seeking study conducted to examine the psychological distress and social appearance anxiety levels of burn patients after discharge. The population of the study consists of burn patients who were hospitalized in Baskent University Hospital Burn and Treatment Center in 2021-2022. When the total number of patients treated in Baskent University Hospital Burn and Wound Treatment Center within 1 year is known as 39 people, the sample size was determined as at least 36 people. This study was completed with 37 patients. Sociodemographic and Burn Information Form, Psychological Distress Scale, and Social Appearance Anxiety Scale were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics are given as number of units (n), percent (%), median, median (M), and minimum (min), maximum (max) values. The normal distribution of the data of numerical variables was evaluated with the Shapiro Wilk test of normality. It was found that the data were not normally distributed. Comparisons of scale scores for variables with two categories were made with the Mann-Whitney U test, and comparisons of scale scores for variables with more than two categories were made with the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Relationships between numerical variables were evaluated with the Spearman correlation coefficient. The effect of the independent variable (Social Appearance Anxiety Scale) on the dependent variable (Psychological Distress Scale) was evaluated by linear regression analysis. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the results of the study, the mean total score of psychological distress of the patients was 23.46±7.77 points. The psychological distress scale was not statistically significant according to the gender, marital status, education level, income level and age variables of the patients; According to burn percentage and burn type, psychological distress scale was found to be statistically significant. The mean total score of the patients' social appearance anxiety was 50.70±13.66 points. According to the gender and income level variables of the patients, the social appearance anxiety scale was not statistically significant; It was determined that the social appearance anxiety scale was statistically significant according to marital status, education level, age, burn percentage and burn type. A statistically significant correlation was found between the psychological distress scale and the Social Appearance Anxiety scale at a moderately positive level. The effect of Social Appearance Anxiety scale scores on Psychological Distress scores was evaluated by linear regression analysis. According to the model, it was determined that as social appearance anxiety scores increased, psychological distress scores increased by 0.563 points. Considering the marital status, education level, burn percentage, age, burn type variables that affect psychological distress and social appearance anxiety levels, it is thought that it will help in the psychological support studies to be applied to burn patients.