Lived Experiences of Low-income African American Burn Survivors in Greater Washington, DC

Burn injuries are wounds that affect the skin and other organic tissue, categorized according to the mechanism of injury and brought on by heat, electricity, chemicals, fire, or flames. In the United States, researchers have shown that race and other healthcare inequalities lead to increased burn injuries among African Americans but have yet to explore their lived experiences after sustaining these injuries. This phenomenological study explored perceptions and understanding of the manifestation of burn injuries of seven African American burn survivors. Participants were recruited in health services public waiting areas, community storefronts, mailers, and on Facebook. Data were collected via semistructured audio-recorded interviews and analyzed using the thematic process outlined by Braun and Clark. Participants indicated a lack of awareness of burn prevention safety measures in their homes and social environments; stated they had positive experiences with the specialized burn response team, whose treatment and support ultimately affected a positive outcome; stated personal behaviors influence the risk of burn injuries; and indicated the need for more burn prevention education. Study findings may lead to the development of educational interventions, and policy development for addressing burn injuries among African Americans.