Assessing the mental health and psychosocial well-being of Ukrainian pediatric trauma and burn patients and their caregivers amidst the war: insights from a surgical medical mission in Poland

Abstract

Abstract On a recent surgical medical mission caring for Ukrainian pediatric burn and trauma patients in Poland, an assessment of the mental health and well-being of children and their caregivers was completed. Children living in war zones frequently experience significant distress and mental health problems, but little is known about the impact of coexisting related or unrelated burn injuries or physical disabilities. Nineteen Ukrainian children and their caregivers were interviewed utilizing validated questionnaires Child Behavioral Checklist (CBCL) and Youth Self-Report (YSR) to assess their risk for developing or for the presence of clinically significant mental health problems. We found a high percentage of children at risk for developing mental health disorders and an unexpectedly high number of children meeting the criteria for mental health disorders. As a result of interviewing the caregivers, agreement was seen between the self-assessment in children and the perception of parents about their children’s well-being. Further study is needed to better understand the complex interactions between pre-existing burn and traumatic injuries and their impact on the psychosocial well-being of children living in war-torn environments.