Title: Mind-over matter: An Exploratory Case Study of Mind-Body Interventions in the Burn Unit

Authors:
Abby K Anderson, MS, OTR/L
Amanda L Hoffman, MS, OTR/L, BCPR
Karen Atler, PhD, OTR/L
Paula Yuma, MPH, PhD
Heather Hill, MS, OTR/L
Jennifer Pauley, OTR/L
Arlene A. Schmid, PhD, OTR, FAOTA

JACOT Volume 2, Issue 2

Abstract

Patients in the burn unit are confronted with a life-altering injury and often experience high degrees of pain and psychological distress. Occupational therapists (OT) are concerned with the quality of life and mental health of patients in the burn unit and may offer coping techniques to help manage stressors associated with burn recovery. Within the burn unit, specifically, mind-body practices, including deep-breathing and audio-guided relaxation, have been shown to reduce pain and anxiety in the limited context of wound care (Achterberg et al., 1988; Park et al., 2013). The present study sought to explore the use of mind-body techniques beyond the context of wound care by integrating such practices into routine occupational therapy treatment. Over a three-month period, the patients on the OT caseload were given the option to explore mind-body based occupational therapy (MB-OT). Five patients opted for MB-OT and provided verbal consent to participate. Data from electronic medical records (EMRs) of the five patients were included in the retrospective chart review. Individual responses to mind-body practices were assessed and patient perspectives were included to better understand what MB-OT brought to the recovery process.