UNITS Study. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Needs and Interventions for the Treatment of Scarring (UNITS): The Psychosocial Impact of Conflict-related Disfigurement
IRAS ID
257931
Contact name
Leigh Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 7 days
Research summary
Research with civilians indicates that an appearance which differs from ‘the norm’ and is considered to be “disfiguring” by the affected person or others, can present significant psychological and social challenges. Despite substantial evidence into the psychosocial issues surrounding visible difference among the general population, there is a dearth of published research focusing on understanding the specific psychosocial needs of those who sustained disfiguring injuries as a result of military conflict (for example, burns, scarring, or limb loss).
This research aims to investigate the psychosocial impact of conflict-related appearance-altering injuries on UK military personnel and veterans and to use the results to inform the adaptation of existing interventions and/or development of new tailored interventions to support military personnel and veterans in managing the psychosocial challenges associated with their altered appearance.
Three research questions will be addressed
Q1: What are the experiences, appearance-related concerns, and support needs of military populations affected by conflict-related appearance-altering injuries?
Q2: To what extent are the factors that predict psychosocial adjustment to altered appearance among military populations similar or different to those that predict adjustment among a comparative sample of adults without a military background?
Q3: Could existing interventions/support materials for general population adults be suitable or adapted to meet the needs of military populations with conflict-related appearance altering injuries?Research question one has already been addressed via a qualitative study of ex-military service personnel and their families completed in 2019 (this previous study was approved by the University of the West of England (UWE) Research Ethics Committee).
Research questions two and three will be addressed using a cross-sectional survey study for which this application seeks approval. This application seeks approval to recruit participants via multiple NHS sites. The sites will be Participant Identification Centres only.
This research is funded by the Scar Free Foundation (www.scarfree.org.uk)REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0714
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion