Using Photo-Elicitation to Explore Families’ Experiences of Burn Camp

Abstract

A qualitative study using photo-elicitation was conducted to investigate the experiences of family members attending a residential burn camp. Six families were provided with cameras and asked to take photographs of their time at camp. They were subsequently interviewed about their experiences of camp, using their photographs as prompts. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified three main themes: benefits for the family as a whole (new activities and experiences and lasting impacts), benefits for the child (having fun without feeling different), and benefits for the parent/carer (support from those who understand). This is the first study to specifically investigate the experience of the whole family at a burn camp and suggests that attendance may offer a number of benefits for parents/carers and children. Photo-elicitation was an effective method for encouraging participants to recall and discuss their time at camp, and should be considered in future burns research.