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Pressure therapy is generally accepted as an effective means of preventing and controlling hypertrophic scarring after burn injury. Pressure treatment based principally on the use of pressure garments is widely used in Hong Kong and many other countries. These garments are tailor‐made to the individual patient's measurement to provide a uniform and firm support to body contours, and they are designed individually for the area of injury. Attempts to review the existing practice of the various kinds of pressure garments on patients, and to provide a better understanding of the present use of fabric and production methods employed in the manufacturing of the garments. Includes a brief account of the problems encountered by both the patients and the medical staff.

Pressure garments have been used prophylactically and to treat hypertrophic scars, resulting from serious burns, since the early 1970s. They are custom‐made from elastic fabrics by commercial producers and occupational therapists. However, no clear scientifically established method has ever been published for their manufacture from powernet fabrics. The earlier work identified the most commonly used fabrics and construction methods for the production of pressure garments by occupational therapists in UK burn units. These methods have now been evaluated by measuring the pressures delivered to both cylinder models and to human limbs using I‐scan^® pressure sensors. The effect of cylinder/limb circumference and the effects of the fabric and reduction factor used in pressure garment construction on pressures exerted have now been established. These measurements confirm the limitations of current pressure garment construction methods used in UK hospitals. These results were also used to evaluate the Laplace law for the prediction of interface pressures.

This paper aims to describe new measuring device designed for measuring the pressure exerted by textile products used in healing therapy of hypertrophic scars. The testing device called “Textilpress” has been used for verification of the usually used method of designing and manufacturing ready‐made compression garment products.

The pressure measurement, realized by use of the “Textilpress” device, is an indirect measuring method, which is based on the Laplace Law. The investigations described in this paper concern the pressure measuring under textile bands placed on the models representing selected parts of the human body with pre‐set circumferences. For this purpose, rigid cylinders were prepared, covered by a layer of neoprene which simulated the susceptibility of human skin.

The investigations described in this paper indicate that the “Textilpress” test‐device may be used for pressure measuring exerted by compression bands on the cylinder surface. In order to estimate the pressure exerted on a particular body part with the shape close to a cylinder, a measurement should be carried out on a cylinder with a circumference similar to that of the selected part of the human body.

The “Textilpress” test‐device may be used by the manufacturers for measuring pressures exerted by compression bands (manufactured from knitted fabrics) on the cylinder surface of a pre‐set diameter. In order to estimate the pressure exerted on a particular body part with the shape close to a cylinder, a measurement should be carried out on a cylinder with a circumference similar to that of the selected part of the human body.

As hospitals do not possess appropriate measuring devices, which would enable one to measure the pressure on the scar exerted by the textile garment, the pressure efficiency and the appropriate fittings are estimated subjectively for the particular case. The “Textilpress” device enables monitoring such pressure.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of chitosan treatments on exerted pressures of nylon 6.6/elastane pressure garments in three different knit structures using wireless pressure sensors for an accurate and a precise scar management for future designs.

Pressure garments designed in different structures consist of 70/30 and 75/25 nylon 6.6/elastane were treated with chitosan and the exerted pressures were analyzed using wireless pressure sensors including ultra-thin and flexible printed circuit sensors in comparison with untreated control samples. Antimicrobial activities and washing tests were also evaluated.

It is found that chitosan treatments have a significant effect on final pressures. Exerted pressures increased significantly for all samples after chitosan treatments. Higher pressures were measured for weft knit structured designs while lower pressures were recorded for powernet structured garments. It is found that the elasticity showed a small significant decrease and it has attributed due to a small significant shrinkage during processes. The mean scores of pressures were found in the acceptable medical range which will continue to help hypertrophic scar management for future designs. The exerted pressures of the fabrics remained constant after five washes and showed a small significant decrease after 10 and 50 washes which will provide a long period of compression. Permanent antimicrobial effectiveness has gained at around 90 percent after five washes and 50 percent after 50 washes. A small significant increase was observed for stiffness (CD, MD) after ten washes.

Chitosan treatments impact exerted pressures of pressure garments significantly. It is a reference to evaluate pressure functions of pressure garments using wireless pressure sensors while imparting antimicrobial activity.

This paper aims to investigate the unique issues childhood burn survivors experience in relation to sex education and sexual development.

Using a phenomenological approach, participants described their lived experiences with regards to sex education and the sexuality issues they encountered as child burn survivors. One‐to‐one semi‐structured interviews and a focus group were used to gather data, which were analyzed using a constant comparison method.

Results provide educators with better insight into the experiences of burn survivors as well as strategies for approaching sex education. Findings centered around five areas: exposure, sex education content, timing of sex education, characteristics of the educator and most appropriate methods of delivery.

Sexuality is a value‐laden topic that has the potential to increase apprehension and decrease willingness to discuss. As a result, the sample may not be wholly representative across age groups, concerns or social attitudes regarding sexuality present within this population. Additional limitations are also noted. Future studies, which utilize a mixed method approach with a larger sample of both adolescent and adult burn survivors, would increase the value and generalizability of the findings.

Research findings confirm that persons living with childhood burn injuries experience similar feelings and concerns regarding their sexuality as their able‐bodied peers which contradict social views. However, mainstream sex education falls short of addressing their unique needs and as such this study's findings provide strategies to allow for appropriate knowledge acquisition to ease the transition from childhood to adulthood.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of treatments using chitosan in different degree of deacetylations (DDs) on thermophysiological comfort properties of nylon 6,6/elastane pressure garments using a large skin model hot plate instrumentation to prevent infection and excess sweating during burn scar management for future designs.

Chitosans in different DD (DD 70, DD 81 and nylon 6,6/elastane fabrics in different structures, then the total DD 90) are treated with thermal resistance (R_ct) ((°ΔC)(m²)/W), total heat loss (Q_t or THL) (W/m²), apparent total evaporative resistance ( R e t A ), ((ΔkPa)(m²)/W), apparent intrinsic evaporative resistance ( R e f A ), ((ΔkPa)(m²)/W) and total insulation values (I_t) (clo) were analyzed using the large skin model hot plate instrumentation in comparison with untreated control samples. Antimicrobial activities, washing tests and moisture regain properties were also evaluated.

It is found that chitosan DDs have a significant effect on thermophysiological comfort properties of nylon 6,6 fabrics. A small but statistically significant decrease was observed in thermal resistance (R_ct) (Tog) and isolation (I_t) (clo) properties for higher chitosan DDs and for higher chitosan concentrations for all fabric samples after each treatment. Antimicrobial activity showed a small but statistically significant decrease for all samples with the increase of DD and fabrics treated with lower DD 70 of chitosan showed better antimicrobial activity for all samples. Additionally, fabrics treated with higher DD’s exhibited higher moisture regain.

Treatments with chitosan in different DD and in different concentrations impact the heat and moisture transfer properties of nylon 6,6 fabrics significantly. It is a reference to evaluate the thermophysiological comfort properties of pressure garments for future designs using dry and sweating skin tests while imparting antimicrobial activity with chitosans in different DDs.

The pressure on body scars resulting from pressure garments gradually decreases with time, probably as a consequence of stress relaxation in the fabric material. In order to understand the basic mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon, an understanding of the stress relaxation behaviour of relevant textile structures is vitally important. Makes comparisons of the stress relaxation and shrinkage properties on six selected fabric samples which are all currently used by the hospitals in the UK and/or in Hong Kong. The design of the stress relaxation tests was based on the consideration of the fabric from a performance‐in‐use standpoint. The results of the tests showed differences between the fabrics collected in the UK and Hong Kong. It was also found that the stress relaxation in the wale direction was considerably lower (resulting in better performance) than in the course direction. It may be noted that the shrinkage of the fabrics was closely related to the degree of elasticity loss during washing.

One’s standpoint and consequent research paradigm impacts how we conduct research, including study design, analyses interpretation and dissemination of results. In 2017, the authors began PhD, studying the potential barriers to aftercare treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under 16 who had sustained a burn injury in one of five major hospitals in Australia. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

As Aboriginal PhD students, the authors are conducting research using Aboriginal ontology as a framework, which is based on a holistic framework with interconnectedness, person-centred care and Aboriginal ways of knowing as the foundation. The framework has been shaped by the first author’s knowing, being and doing, and the authors’ worldview has informed and shaped the standpoint and the way the research has been developed and conducted.

It was important for the authors to have a connectedness to each aspect of the research and to each individual person that shared their story: this was paramount to the ways of being.

This connectedness stems from growing up on the authors’ country and learning from elders, from the connection to all entities living around, within and with the authors. The Indigenous research methodology was used throughout the study, including yarning and Dadirri, a way of deep listening and learning, as the basis for interviewing.

Examines the thirteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Examines the twelfth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.