Iran Journal of Nursing

  The injury due to the minor and moderate burn is allocated highest rates of intense nursing. There is possibility of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the burned patients. This study is performed with the aim of determination and comparison rate of PTSD in two groups of minor and morderate burn.

  This was a comparative cross-sectional study. Eighty patients with burn injury were studied in two groups. Group 1, injured with minor (Less than 15% TBSA) and the group with moderate (15-25% TBSA) burn injury was included in the second group. The sampling method was sequential and the study was conducted from March to July 2006. A questionnaire was used for assessing the rate of PTSD that completed by an interview with the subjects.

  The study findings, showed that the highest rate of PTSD occured in the moderate burn (47.5%). There was a statistically significant relationship between the rate of PTSD and moderate burn (P=0.024) in patients.

  It seens that, severity of burn indicate the rate of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). This is very important matter that injured patients should be detected as soon as possible to receive appropriate nursing care plan. With a view to PTSD recognition, implementation of care plan must be initiated appropriately.