The impact of the family-centered empowerment model on the children's quality of life with chemical burns and their parent’s perceived stress

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Background and aimChemical burns are challenging for children and their families due to the unpleasant health consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to provide organized programs to support and educate families suffering child burns. This study aimed at determining the impact of the Family-Centered Empowerment Model (FCEM) on the quality of life of children with chemical burns and their parents' stress. MethodsThis two-group pre-test-post-test experimental study was conducted on 50 children 1–12 years old with chemical burns along with their parents (n = 50) in three hospitals in Birjand, Iran. Eligible participants were selected by convenience randomized sampling method and then assigned to intervention and control groups. The questionnaires included: PedsQL for measuring the quality of life of children aged 6–12 years, TAPQOL for evaluating the quality of life of children aged 1–6 years, and PSS for exploring the perceived parental stress. The intervention group received the FCEM-based program consisting of four steps (perceived threat, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and evaluation) and the control group received the standard care. Perceived parental stress and children's quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention in both groups. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software V. 23. ResultsThe results showed that the mean scores of parental stress and children's quality of life (total and subscales) were not significantly different before the intervention. The independent t-test results exhibited a significant difference after the intervention between the mean scores of the variables of the two groups (P < 0.001), indicating an increase in the quality-of-life score and its subscales and a decrease in the parents' stress score. The paired t-test results revealed a significant difference between the means of scores before and after the intervention in the intervention group (P < 0.001). ConclusionFCEM is an effective approach to reducing parental stress and improving the children's quality of life aged 1–12 years old suffered chemical burns. Therefore, it is suggested to consider the model care plan for this population.