Quality of life of severely injured patients one year after trauma. A matched-pair study with a healthy control group

Purpose. Severe trauma is accompanied not only with functional disabilities , but also with pain, social and psychological problems of the patient. Tho se four aspects are important components of the construct quality of life ( QoL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate different questionnaires an d to compare results between multiply injured patients and healthy controls . Methods. A group of 43 severely injured patients was matched according to a ge, gender, educational status and family life situation to 43 persons who had never experienced a severe injury. For the assessment of all four aspec ts of QoL the patients completed validated questionnaires: Beck-Depression- Inventory (BDI), Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), State-Trait Anxiety Inve ntory (STAI), a questionnaire for locus of control (KKG), and a questionnai re for social support (SOZU). Results. Patients and the control group showed remarkable differences: 22 o f 43 trauma patients suffered from bad health perception (subscale of SF-36 ) (8/43 control persons), 21 trauma patients reported moderate to severe pa in (5/43 control persons), 11 of 43 trauma patients suffered from anxiety ( 4/43 control persons) and 10 of 43 trauma patients complained about depress ive symptoms (2/43 control persons). Conclusion. One year after trauma, patients suffer from severe impairments, some even in all four aspects of QoL. The questionnaires used are very wel l applicable to patients after severe injuries. A trauma-specific Quality o f Life Instrument is lacking - and is currently developed by the german tra uma registry group.