An integrative literature review of factors contributing to hypothermia in adults during the emergent (ebb) phase of a severe burn injury.

BACKGROUND: During the emergent (ebb) phase (first 72 h), the adult person with a severe burn experiences loss of body heat, decreased metabolism, and poor tissue perfusion putting them at risk of hypothermia, increased morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, timely and targeted care is imperative.

AIM: The aim of this integrative literature review was to develop a framework of the factors contributing to hypothermia in adults with a severe burn injury during the emergent (ebb) phase.

METHODS: An integrative review of research literature was undertaken as it provides an orderly process in the sourcing and evaluation of the literature. Only peer reviewed research articles, published in scholarly journals were selected for inclusion (n = 26). Research rigor and quality for each research article was determined using JBI Global appraisal tools relevant to the methodology of the selected study.

FINDINGS: Contributing factors were classified under three key themes: Individual, Pre-hospital, and In-hospital factors.

CONCLUSION: The structured approach enabled the development of an evidence-based framework identifying factors contributing to hypothermia in adults with a severe burn injury during the emergent (ebb) phase and adds knowledge to improve standardized care of the adult person with a severe burn injury.