Descriptive Analysis of Current Burn Care for Plain Communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania: A Qualitative Study of Strengths and Needs in a Hospital–Community Partnership

Abstract

Abstract Plain communities present with a higher risk of sustaining burn injuries. Yet, little is known about the hospital–community partnerships with Plain caretakers to facilitate culturally competent burn care. The current study provides a qualitative analysis of Plain caretakers’ perspectives on an existing hospital–community partnership for facilitating culturally sensitive burn care and their perspectives on the ongoing physical, structural, and behavioral health needs of this population. Twelve Plain community caregivers who serve on a burn wound treatment team or an oil therapy team within their community took part in a focus group interview. Caretakers identified as White, were majority male (83%), and resided in Plain communities. Retrospective thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Five major themes (ie, informational needs, strengths of Plain community burn care, behavioral health concerns, behavioral health resources, and preferred teaching methods) evolved. Results revealed that Plain caregivers displayed an openness to learning about recommended burn care from the medical providers. Caretakers also cited their traditional (homeopathic) burn care procedures as perceived strengths, while simultaneously maintaining that their relationship with the hospital is a valuable part of life-saving burn care. Regarding their behavioral health needs, caretakers highlighted difficulties in helping their children cope with burn injuries and pain during rehabilitation and treatment. Other topics discussed included social support and cultural factors that impact the delivery of burn care to Plain communities from non-Plain providers. These results provide important considerations that other burn centers may consider when establishing similar partnerships to deliver of culturally competent medicine for Plain burn survivors.