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Investigation into nurses' emotion regulation while causing pain to adult patients during burns dressing changes: a qualitative study

Rudkin, L; Williams, L; Williams, ACDC; (2025) Investigation into nurses' emotion regulation while causing pain to adult patients during burns dressing changes: a qualitative study. Burns , 51 (1) , Article 107315. 10.1016/j.burns.2024.107315.

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Abstract

Background: Burns can cause patients significant pain at the time of injury and during subsequent treatment. Other people's pain often elicits empathic responses in observers. However, effective emotion regulation strategies are needed to manage personal distress, which may otherwise inhibit helping behaviour. / Methods: This study used an interpretative qualitative approach to conduct semi-structured interviews with burns nurses. Interviews explored emotion regulation strategies used by nurses whilst causing pain to adult patients during burns dressing changes. Transcripts were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six stages of thematic analysis. / Results: Eight burns nurses participated in the interviews. Thematic analysis developed five themes: Emotions get in the way of being a good nurse; Pain's an inevitable and justifiable part of treatment and healing; If I'm not made aware of the pain, maybe there is no pain; The pain's due to other factors, not my actions; and Sometimes it's too much. / Conclusion: Burns nurses’ attempts at regulating their emotions were influenced by their beliefs about what makes a ‘good’ nurse. Gross's model of emotion regulation provides a useful framework for understanding these strategies, but further research is needed into the helpfulness thereof for nurses and patients.

Type: Article
Title: Investigation into nurses' emotion regulation while causing pain to adult patients during burns dressing changes: a qualitative study
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2024.107315
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.burns.2024.107315
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Burns, Nurse, Pain, Emotion regulation, Dressings
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology
URI: https://discovery-pp.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10202766
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