The experience of wearing compression garments after burn injury: "On the inside it is still me".

BACKGROUND: Compression garments are widely used for the management of hypertrophic scars, however, the patient experience of wearing compression garments remains minimally explored. OBJECTIVE: To gain an understanding of the patient experience of wearing compression garments post burn injury, including why patients remove their garments. METHOD: Interpretive description was the methodological approach used in this study. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were used to gain in-depth insights into the lived experience of wearing compression garments. Thematic analysis revealed key themes across the data and member checking confirmed data interpretation. RESULTS: Three main themes related to wearing compression garments were identified: what it feels like to wear compression garments, what it is like to be a patient within a burns service and the impact of garments on patients' lives and recovery. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlighted a variety of influences that affected the individual experience of garment wear, highlighting the need for a patient centred approach by burn service providers.