Cross-Cultural Review of Sexuality, Relationships, and Body Image after Burns: Analysis of the BSHS-B

Abstract

Burn survivors are at risk for dissatisfaction with body image, relationships, and sexuality due to disfiguring changes secondary to the injury. This review compares available global data on BSHS-B psychosocial scores. Twenty-four studies were included in the final analysis encompassing 14 countries; significant differences were found in scores across all BSHS-B psychological sub-sections of affect, body image, interpersonal relationships, and sexuality. On the whole, psychological well-being after burn injury was lower in Asian and South Asian countries compared to Europe or the United States. This study provides information for providers in burn centers caring for patients from a variety of cultural contexts and begins to steer initiatives to remedy psychological inequities in global burn care.