An observational study in Experiences, Burn and Calorimetry, Indirect, sponsored by Uppsala University Hospital. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Sweden. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-24.
Sponsored by Uppsala University Hospital · Observational
A severe burn injury affects not only the skin but also how the body uses energy. Many patients have increased energy needs during recovery, and healthcare professionals use a method called indirect calorimetry to measure the body's energy expenditure and help provide appropriate nutritional treatment.
During the measurement, the patient rests comfortably while wearing a transparent canopy over the head for approximately 10 to 30 minutes. The equipment measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production to estimate the body's energy needs.
Although indirect calorimetry is commonly used in burn care, little is known about how patients experience the procedure. The aim of this study is to explore patients' experiences of undergoing indirect calorimetry after a burn injury.
Participants will be interviewed about their experiences of the measurement. By analyzing these interviews, we hope to gain a better understanding of patients' perspectives and identify ways to improve information, preparation, comfort, and overall care related to the procedure. Ultimately, this may help make the assessment more comfortable for patients and support high-quality individualized nutritional treatment.
Severe burn injury affects the entire body, not only the skin. Profound alterations occur in metabolism, endocrine function, and immune responses, resulting in a hypermetabolic state. This condition is characterized by an increased energy expenditure that may persist for months or even years following injury. Adequate nutritional support is essential to promote wound healing, reduce the risk of infection, and preserve lean body mass. Both underfeeding and overfeeding may adversely affect recovery and clinical outcomes.
To enable safe and individualized nutritional management, measurement of resting energy expenditure (REE) using indirect calorimetry is recommended. During the assessment, the awake patient wears a transparent plastic canopy placed over the head. Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production are measured over a period of 10 to 30 minutes to estimate energy requirements. Accurate measurements require the patient to remain still, relaxed, and awake, while refraining from speaking, as physical activity, psychological stress, and other disturbances may influence the results.
Although indirect calorimetry is routinely used in burn care, relatively little is known about how patients experience the measurement procedure itself. Factors such as the hospital environment, pain, anxiety, restricted mobility, and the measurement may influence the patient's experience; however, these aspects have received limited scientific attention. Understanding the patient perspective is important, as discomfort or stress may negatively affect both the patient experience and the quality of the measurement.
The aim of this study is therefore to explore how individuals receiving care for burn injuries experience the assessment of resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry.
Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews. Eligible participants will be approached during their burn care admission and provided with both oral and written study information. Written informed consent will be obtained prior to participation. Consent forms and interview data will be stored securely and will be accessible only to the research team.
Interviews will be conducted within two weeks of the indirect calorimetry assessment, either in person at the burn unit or remotely via telephone or video call following hospital discharge. All interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interview guide focuses on participants' experiences before, during, and after the indirect calorimetry measurement.
Data will be analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. Interview transcripts will be read repeatedly to achieve immersion in the data and identify meaning units, which will be condensed, coded, and grouped into subcategories, categories, and overarching themes. Two researchers will independently code the interviews and discuss interpretations until consensus is reached. The analysis will involve an iterative process of moving between the original text, codes, categories, and emerging themes to develop a comprehensive understanding of participants' experiences. Findings will be reported with illustrative quotations to enhance transparency and trustworthiness.
Through qualitative content analysis of interview data, the study seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of patients' experiences, perceptions, and needs associated with indirect calorimetry. Increased knowledge in this area may contribute to improvements in clinical procedures, patient communication, and preparation before and during the assessment. Ultimately, the goal is to make the measurement process as safe, comfortable, and patient-centered as possible, thereby enhancing both the patient experience and the quality of the measurements used to guide individualised nutritional therapy.
905 studies on the registry are indexed under Burns; 164 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 20 is below the median of 64 across 163 observational studies indexed under Burns.
Browse Burns studies →Uppsala University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 73 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.
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Patients post-burn admitted to the BurnCentre at Uppsala university hospital, 18 years or older, swedish/english speaking, with experience of at least one calorimetry measurement.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Patients post-burn admitted to the BurnCentre at Uppsala university hospital, 18 years or older, swedish/english speaking, with experience of at least one calorimetry measurement.
Patients´ experiences
Patients´ experiences before, during and after calorimetry measurement is explored with a semi-structered interview guide. The interview will be conducted within two weeks from the measurment at the Burn Centre. The interviews will be recorded, transcribed and analysed with content analysis.
Time frame: The interviews will be conducted within two weeks from the calorimetry measurment.
Plan to share: No
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Uppsala University Hospital