Injury
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 19-26, January 2007

Health outcomes of adults 3 months after injury

  • Leanne M. Aitken

      Affiliations

    • Research Centre for Clinical Practice Innovation, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
    • Nursing Practice Development Unit, Building 18, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 7 3240 7256; fax: +61 7 3240 7356.
    • ,
  • Tamzyn M. Davey

      Affiliations

    • Queensland Trauma Registry, CONROD, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    • ,
  • Jane Ambrose

      Affiliations

    • Pfizer, 38-42 Wharf Road, West Ryde, New South Wales 2114, Australia
    • ,
  • Luke B. Connelly

      Affiliations

    • CONROD, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    • Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH UQ), The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    • ,
  • Cheryl Swanson

      Affiliations

    • CONROD, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
    • ,
  • Nicholas Bellamy

      Affiliations

    • CONROD, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia

Accepted 23 May 2006.

Summary 

Background

Injury is a leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity in Australia and the world. Despite this there is little research examining the health related quality of life of adults following general trauma.

Methods

A prospective cohort design was used to study adults who presented to hospital following injury. Data regarding injury and demographic details was collected through the routine operation of the Queensland Trauma Registry (QTR). In addition, the short form 36 (SF-36) was mailed to patients approximately 3 months following injury.

Results

Participants included 339 injured patients who were hospitalised for ≥24h in March–June 2003. A secondary group of 145 patients completed the SF-36, but did not have QTR data collected due to hospitalisation being <24h. Both groups of participants reported significantly lower scores on all subscales of the SF-36 when compared to Australian norms.

Conclusions

Health related quality of life of injured survivors is markedly reduced 3 months after injury. Ongoing treatment and support is necessary to improve these health outcomes.

Keywords: Health related quality of life, Health outcomes, Trauma

 

PII: S0020-1383(06)00355-X

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2006.05.020

Injury
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 19-26, January 2007

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