Reduced hospitalisation of burns patients following a multi-media campaign that increased adequacy of first aid treatment.

CONTEXT Concern engendered by a previous study that showed inadequate first aid for burn injuries was prevalent in the community led to a novel multi-media public health campaign ensued to address the issue. OBJECTIVE To determine whether this public health campaign influenced behaviour by altering first aid treatment for burn injuries (BFAT). DESIGN, SETTING AND POPULATION: Prospective intervention study. Consecutive patients with acute burn injuries over two 4-month intervals, presenting to a regional burn service, Auckland, New Zealand. This research was ethically approved by the Local Research Ethics Committee. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographics, burn size, adequacy of burn first aid, outpatient/inpatient wound care and operative intervention requirement. RESULTS Adequacy of BFAT improved following the campaign (59% versus 40%, P=0.004). Fewer inpatient admissions (64.4% versus 35.8%, P<0.001) and surgical procedures (25.6% versus 11.4%, P<0.001) were undertaken following the campaign with a corresponding increase in outpatient care. Greatest decreases were observed in Maori and Pacific Islanders, and in children <10 years old. CONCLUSIONS Adequacy of BFAT together with a reduction in the numbers of patients requiring inpatient surgical care was improved by a multi-media public awareness campaign.