Burn patients’ perceptions of skin grafting in China
A single-center retrospective cohort study with paired pre-post assessment
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22083434 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Pei Xu (0000-0003-2657-7417, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Hong Kong (Ningbo College of Health Sciences), Jiliang Li (0000-0001-9506-3634, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Guoying Jin (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Shengyong Cui (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Sida Xu (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Yaohua Yu (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Xin Le (Burn Department, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital), Xinyi Le (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, corresponding author), Youfen Fan (Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 1754982-1754982 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-23 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1754982 |
| PMID | 41657689 |
| OpenAlex | W7125483737 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 47 |
Objectives This study aimed to quantify changes in psychological perceptions before and after skin grafting and to identify key modifiable factors influencing these perceptions in Chinese burn patients. Methods A single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed paired pre- and post-operative survey data from adult inpatients who underwent skin grafting between January 2018 and December 2021. Preoperative (1–3 days before surgery) and postoperative (at discharge) data were extracted from the medical records of 475 patients. Surveys assessed anxiety (Numerical Rating Scale, NRS; Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), fear (NRS), depression (HADS), and perceptions of grafting. Multivariate linear regression controlled for confounders including age, sex, burn site, number of surgeries, burn area, and donor site area. Results Preoperative anxiety (NRS 4.86 ± 2.76) and fear (2.90 ± 2.50) decreased significantly after grafting (anxiety: 3.03 ± 2.48, p < 0.0001; fear: 2.21 ± 2.07, p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identified facial/hand burns ( β = 0.18, p = 0.003) and multiple surgeries ( β = 0.12, p = 0.028) as independent predictors of postoperative anxiety. Postoperative pain was common (56.6%) and correlated with residual anxiety ( r = 0.42, p < 0.01). Patients receiving dual support (family plus clinician education) had significantly lower anxiety levels than those with non-dual support (3.92 ± 2.11 vs. 5.74 ± 2.83, p < 0.001). Prominent preoperative knowledge gaps (e.g., regarding graft failure risk) showed substantial postoperative improvement ( p < 0.001). Conclusion Preoperative anxiety and fear are prevalent but modifiable. The identification of independent predictors enables risk stratification for psychological support. The correlation between pain and anxiety and the benefit of dual support highlight the need for integrated, multidisciplinary care. These findings support embedding structured education and support systems into burn care pathways. Future prospective trials are warranted
Anxiety · Clinical trial · Cohort study · MEDLINE · Multidisciplinary approach · Prospective cohort study · Retrospective cohort study · Burn Injury Management and Outcomes · Reconstructive Surgery and Microvascular Techniques · Wound Healing and Treatments
| Highly cited | No |
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