UNITS

Thanks to breakthroughs in medical science, far fewer soldiers die in conflicts now than in WW1 and WW2. Service personnel survive wounds that would have killed them decades ago, but surviving comes with its own risks. Between April 2005 and March 2020, over 330 service personnel had to have surgical or traumatic amputations as a result of conflict wounds. Many more suffered scarring. 

Injuries that change how we look are known as appearance-altering injuries: AAIs. They can have a profound effect on how we feel about ourselves. While some people with visible differences are happy with how they look, others struggle with ‘looking different.’ They might report problems like anxiety, depression, and problems with work and relationships. 

To help Veterans with AAIs and their families, we need to understand their experiences and needs. The UNITS study was set up to learn more about this unique group so that they can be better supported in the future.   

What did the researchers do? 

The UNITS study lasted three years and involved both qualitative and quantitative research.  

First, the researchers read everything that had already been written on the topic, to find out where there were gaps in our understanding. They found that there was very limited research on how Veterans with AAIs felt and how they should be supported. 

Having established that there was a need for research, the team got to work. They started by interviewing 23 service personnel that had appearance-altering injuries. By looking at the similarities between their experiences, the researchers could pull out common themes that could guide their work. They also interviewed mothers and partners of Veterans to learn more about how AAIs could affect families.  

The scientists also wanted to find out if there were differences between military personnel with AAIs and people with AAIs but no military background. They designed a survey to measure body image and self-esteem, and sent it to 121 Veterans and 197 civilians.  

What did the researchers find? 

The interviews and the survey showed that most military personnel with AAIs needed support that wasn’t available.   

Both Veterans with AAIs and civilians with AAIs had issues with self-esteem because of their injuries. But Veterans were more likely to feel stigmatised and were more vulnerable to mental health problems. In the interviews, both the soldiers and their families felt that they needed resources that reflected their specific experiences in the Armed Forces. 

These discoveries helped the team with the next stage of the study. Working with psychologists, the team adapted resources that were already available for civilians with altered appearances. These new materials were based on therapy methods, and reflected what the Veterans had said in their interviews.   

The researchers also made an infographic showing their findings. They shared this with healthcare professionals to raise awareness of the issues they had found with current care. 

What difference will this research make? 

This research was the first step towards setting up robust systems of support for Veterans with AAIs. The results of this research – the new resources – will make a huge difference to military personnel with altered appearances, both now and in the future.  But the UNITS team need to check their effectiveness before they can be used by Veterans. The researchers are working on finding more funding to make this possible.