Burns injury research

Anyone who has witnessed an accidental burn injury to a young child is being invited to take part in a national research project aimed at improving first aid response and recovery.

Paediatrician Dr Tish Patel says burn injuries in preschool children are common and can cause significant long-term impacts, but research shows that effective first aid is often not carried out.

“There is very little research, both from New Zealand and internationally, that explores carers’ actions immediately following accidental burn injuries and why people may or may not perform first aid,” she says.

“By conducting this research, we hope to be able to identify what the barriers are stopping effective first aid from being completed in the community. This information could help inform the development of targeted programmes and strategies to improve first aid for burn injuries.”

Anyone taking part in the project will be interviewed online by Dr Patel and information collected will be kept confidential. Participants will received a $30 supermarket voucher for taking part.

To find out more, email Dr Patel at kenla373@student.otago.ac.nz