Qualitative research on psychological experience of parents of burned infants during hospitalization

Objective To understand the psychological experience of parents of burned infants during hospitalization, and to provide basis for formulating feasible targeted treatment and nursing programs. Methods The mother or father of 15 burned infants admitted to the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery of Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June to October 2017 were interviewed about their psychological experience during hospitalization of their burned infants one day before the children were expected to be discharged, using the phenomenological method of qualitative research. Data were collected through face to face, semi-structured, and in-depth interviews, and the Colaizzi′s analysis method was applied to analyze, induce, and refine themes of interview data. Results During hospitalization, the parents of burned infants experienced five periods: collapse period, self-blame period, worrying period, stable period, and life belief transition period. Conclusions The psychological experience of parents of burned infants is similar. Beginning with emotional collapse and self-blame, their psychological fluctuations gradually stabilize later. Medical staff should strengthen the psychological assessment and offer timely intervention to parents of burned infants, and it is extremely urgent to popularize knowledge related to burn prevention and first aid for parents of infants.