7 Patterns for Monitoring Burn Recovery: Preliminary Results from the LIBRE Journey Study

Abstract Introduction While social rehabilitation after burn injury is one of the multiple facets of recovery, there are limited data on long term social participation outcomes. The computer adaptive test LIBRE Profile was developed to examine social participation outcomes across six domains. The objective of the study is to use the LIBRE Profile to measure social integration and explore the trajectories of recovery in multiple outcome domains. Methods Preliminary data from the ongoing LIBRE Journey research study were analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristics examined included age, gender, race, ethnicity, education level, marital status, burn size and time since injury. LIBRE Profile scores collected at baseline (time of study enrollment), 6 months, and 12 months were used to develop score trajectories for each of the six LIBRE Profile domains (Family and Friends, Social Activities, Romantic Relationships, Sexual Relationships, Social Interactions, and Work and Employment). Recovery was analyzed for time since injury from 1 year to 70 years. Linear mixed models were applied to each domain, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Models were fit with the score trajectory and 95% confidence intervals to demonstrate change across time and the impact of the covariates. Results The study population included 343 burn survivors with mean age at injury of 45.3 years (SD 15.5) and mean burn size of 18.7% (SD 25.4). The population was 42.1% male, 83.1% white, and 91.6% non-Hispanic. With the exception of Family and Friends and Romantic Relationships, all other domain scores increased with times since injury (p< 0.001).(Example curve: Figure) Those with larger burn size scored worse in Social Activities and Work and Employment. Males demonstrated higher scores than females on Romantic Relationships and Sexual Relationships. Higher education was associated with higher scores on the Family and Friends domain; Marriage was associated with higher scores on Family and Friends, Romantic Relationships and Work and Employment domains. Conclusions Preliminary analysis of LIBRE Journey data demonstrates ability to generate trajectories of recovery for each of the six domains of social participation. Four of the six domains demonstrate evidence of improvement over time, suggesting important positive patterns of social integration occurring in the short- and long-term post injury.