{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,23]],"date-time":"2026-07-23T05:21:59Z","timestamp":1784784119168,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":49,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778544000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["EBJ"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Burn injuries profoundly impact the survivors\u2019 physical, psychological and social well-being, with sexuality, intimacy and body image remaining among the most disrupted yet least addressed areas of rehabilitation. Limited professional training, social discomfort, and a lack of clinical guidance contribute to these unmet needs. Recognizing sexuality as an essential part of health, this interdisciplinary project developed evidence-informed recommendations and communication tools to support both burn survivors and healthcare professionals in discussing intimacy, sexuality, and body image after burn injury. Methods: An interdisciplinary expert group conducted a narrative literature review, supplemented with grey literature and lived experience resources. These insights informed two practical tools: a poster for healthcare professionals and burn centers, and a patient-focused brochure. Both underwent iterative refinement through multicultural feedback from patients and professionals across Europe, Asia and Africa, followed by final validation during an interdisciplinary workshop at the 2025 European Burns Association (EBA) Conference. Results: The literature indicated that burn injuries affect sexuality and body image through interacting physiological, psychological, sensory, relational, and sociocultural factors. Common challenges included reduced desire, anxiety, fear of rejection, altered self-perception, and discomfort initiating conversations about intimacy. Professionals reported limited training, insufficient privacy and cultural barriers. Conclusions: The developed tools and these recommendations aim to normalize dialog, support proactive screening, and promote culturally sensitive patient-centered burn rehabilitation. Embedding sexuality and intimacy within burn care requires ongoing professional training and the identification of dedicated resource persons within each team.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ebj7020026","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]],"date-time":"2026-05-12T12:33:37Z","timestamp":1778589217000},"page":"26","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Recommendations on Sexuality and Intimacy After Burn Injuries"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6383-2961","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jill","family":"Meirte","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"OSCARE\u2014Organisation for Burns, Scar Aftercare & Research, 2170 Antwerp, Belgium"},{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy REVAKI-MOVANT, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stefania Anna","family":"Simone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sabrina","family":"Belemkasser","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Burn Treatment Center, Saint-Louis Hospital, 75010 Paris, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8437-2730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jonathan","family":"Bayuo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich 4305, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1007\/s11195-014-9360-x","article-title":"Burn injuries lead to behavioral changes that impact engagement in sexual and social activities in females","volume":"33","author":"Connell","year":"2015","journal-title":"Sex. 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