Considerations regarding the quality of life in patients with trauma admitted to an emergency department

Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome indicator in assessing interventions and medical treatments, in order to understand the burden of disease and identify health issues.The study aim was to assess the QoL of patients admitted in an Emergency Department, with polytrauma, by applying the SF-12 validated questionnaire.Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 101 subjects, aged 15-17, admitted in the "Sf.Ioan" Children's Emergency Hospital, Galati.Results: The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.707; mean age 16.43 0.88; 69.3% males; 56.4% from urban areas; traumas diagnosed in 19.8% of patients.The mean SF-12 score was significantly lower in patients with sprain (score=89.20)or polytrauma (score=89.90)(p=0.018);slightly lower in patients whose physical and emotional health greatly affected social activities.The degree of impairment in the patient who felt a lot of change in physical and/or emotional health reduced the SF-12 score by 20% (p=0.829).Very intense body pain was associated with a 24% lower SF-12 global score (p=0.308).The mean level of SF-12 scores differed significantly depending on the general health status (p=0.001): on the total study group, a reduced impairment of the QoL was revealed, the mean score was 91.957.67,representing 85.9% of the maximum value recorded; the lowest mean value was recorded in patients with a poor general condition (86.6711.93).Conclusions: The QoL in pediatric patients admitted with various types of trauma did not differ significantly between age groups, sexes or residential environments.The global SF-12 score revealed a decrease in the QoL, due to by the very intense bodily pains that significantly affected the patients' physical and emotional health.