Write About Your Recovery!!

Researchers at the University of Kentucky are interested in learning about your experience and the role peer support played in your recovery. We are carrying out this study to learn what helps people heal and recover from burn injuries. We invite you to tell us your story of burn recovery by writing a response to this instruction: "If you were asked to write a letter to another burn survivor, how would you describe your experience with peer support (either with a group or individual)? What did peer support do or not do for you?"

Your letter should be no more than 5-6 pages typewritten. We plan to analyze the content of these letters to share with others in a professional journal and the Burn Support News. Our findings will not identify individuals who have participated, but will count types of experiences from each respondent and combined and reported as a group.

If it is easier for you to send a tape cassette, you may do that instead of typing a letter. We are interested in people who have had both positive and negative experiences with peer support. You may respond anonymously. Please do not include your name, address, phone number or anything that would be personally identifying. However, it would be an enormous help in our analysis of the letters if you could supply the following information about yourself:

a) age

b) gender

c) number of years ago that your injury occurred

d) the total body surface area burned, and

e) % of body grafted.

If you wish to participate, you may send your letters electronically to kbadger@uky.edu or mail them to:

Dr. Karen Badger

College of Social Work

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY 40506

Please be assured that your decision about whether or not to write a letter is voluntary and does not in any way affect your standing with the Phoenix Society. If you have questions about this study or need to contact me you may do so at 859-257-2350. If you have questions about your right as a volunteer in this research, contact the staff in the Office of Research Integrity at the University of Kentucky at 859-257-9428 or toll free at 1-866-400-9428.

We appreciate your participation in the study to help other burn survivors and health care professionals understand more about peer support.

Sincerely,

Karen Badger, Ph.D., Assistant Professor