Recovery through shared experience: Psychosocial support services for burn survivors in kampala, Uganda

Burn patients in the U.S. have access to effective treatment, therapy and continuing care. Projects like the Phoenix Society's SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) illustrate the efficacy of peer support services in addressing the trauma of severe burn injury. In developing nations, availability of services for post-trauma care is limited. Recovery Through Shared Experience (RTSE) addressed the lack of psychosocial support services for burn survivors at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Using a peer support model and involving community stakeholders, RTSE created a safe space for burn survivors to openly discuss, process and cope with traumatic injury. Designed by an American college student (and fellow burn survivor), the project involved staff at Mulago Hospital's Burns and Plastic Surgery Institute, the Acid Survivor Foundation of Uganda and St. Luke's Presbyterian Church. Nurses at Mulago Hospital led the project, coordinating patient recruitment and serving as primary facilitators at monthly adult support groups and a Child Burn Survivor Fun-Day. Community actors were critical to implementing and sustaining RTSE, allowing it to continue beyond its 2-month startup phase. This intervention reached over 65 patients and family members, through adult support group meetings, a child survivor event, acid survivor event and weekly clinic visits providing peer counseling and burn garment services. Participants gave overwhelmingly positive feedback about our events and showed marked improvement in their outlook. RTSE illustrates that peer support improves coping skills of burn survivors even when ongoing physical needs exist. This simple, inexpensive intervention is recommended for other developing country sites.