Health professionals’ experiences of supporting British Armed Forces veterans with conflict-related, appearance-altering injuries

Numerous British Armed Forces personnel have sustained conflict-related injuries that have altered their appearance. Previous evidence indicates this population may be at risk of appearance-related concerns and that civilian health professionals may experience challenges providing appearance-specific support. This study aimed to explore health professionals’ experiences of supporting veterans with appearance-altering, conflict-related injuries to understand: what health professionals perceive the psychosocial impact of these injuries may be; how health professionals currently provide support around appearance; and consider directions for appearance-related service provision and future research. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 12 health professionals recruited through the NHS, veteran charities, and social media. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes were developed: Social acceptability impacts social comfort; Balancing act; Feeling shut out and Function over form. Findings indicated participants felt veterans prioritized function over appearance, but also thought that veterans can experience negative social stigma due to post-injury appearance-change. Participants appeared to lack both confidence in raising the topic of appearance and knowledge around how best to support appearance concerns. Understanding military culture also seemed important to veteran-centered support. Further research is required to consider conversation aids and develop tailored training for health professionals around appearance-specific, culturally-sensitive care.