INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT OF QUALITY-OF -LIFE IN MULTIPLE TRAUMA PATIENTS

Trauma can be defined as either a somatic injury or a psychological re action in the person affected. The emotional disturbances and psychoso cial problems of trauma patients in particular, though still measurabl e a year or even longer after the event, have rarely been taken into a ccount in surgical studies. Quality of life is a relevant endpoint in multiple trauma patients, insofar as rehabilitation seems to be compli cated by non-efficient psychological coping. With reference to the pre requisites for a scientifically sound measuring method four instrument s are described that seem to be suitable for measuring quality of life in multiple trauma patients. In addition, practical advice is given f or the design of longitudinal studies focused on quality of life in tr auma patients.