The Effect of Peer Education on the Pain of Burn Debridement Candidates

Introduction: Debridement is a daily care for burn patients that can cause severe pain due to skin damage. Pain is one of the primary side effects of burn wounds and relieving pain is a basic need for all patients. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of peer education on the pain level of burn debridement candidates.Methods: A total of 60 patients that were burn debridement candidates referring to Shaheed Motahari hospital were selected using available sampling method. The research was conducted in three stages (before intervention, during intervention, and after intervention). The severity of pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) and descriptive-analytical tests.Results: The mean score of pain intensity at the beginning of burn debridement was 6.35 ± 2.10 in the intervention group and 5.30 ± 1.85 in the control group. While, after peer education, the mean score of pain intensity was 3.30 ± 1.78 and 4.20 ± 1.23 in the intervention and control group, respectively.Conclusion: Peer education can significantly reduce the severity of pain associated with burn debridement. The use of non-pharmacological effective techniques, such as peer education can be beneficial in relieving pain and preventing its exacerbation.