Objective: To assess the relationship between the quality of life of burn patients and
the quality of life and burden of family member caregivers.
Method: The study was conducted between October 2015 and January 2016 in the
central districts of Ankara. Thirty burn patients who had been treated and discharged
and 30 relatives who provided home care for patients participated in the study. Several
instruments were used to collect data: a personal information form developed for the
burn patient, the Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS), a personal information form
developed for the caregivers, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale -Bref
(WHOQOL-BREF) and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (ZCBI).
Results: The caregivers´ mean quality of life scores obtained from The WHOQOLBREF
were 72.6 in the physical health domain, 68.2 in the psychological health
domain, 63.7 in the social health domain, and 56.3 in the environmental health domain.
The ZCBI mean score was 26.6. The increase in the burn patient´s quality of life was
found to reduce the caregiving burden, while it affected the caregiver´s quality of life in
the physical environment negatively. Our study results found that the more time that
passed since caregivers had begun caring for the burn patient, the fewer difficulties
they encountered.
Conclusion: The relationship between burn patients´ quality of life and that of
caregivers was examined. Findings revealed that when the burn patient is discharged
from the hospital, caregivers should be fully informed about the burn injuries, the
projected healing process, and the burn´s possible effects on the individual.
Furthermore, support visits by the professional medical team should be organized for
the burn patients while they are receiving care at home from family members.

Relationship between burn patients´ quality of life and caregivers´ burden and quality of life