War-wounded refugees. Quality of life after 2-3 years in Sweden.
The Medical Center for Refugees in Linköping, Sweden, includes a medical ward for refugees and asylum applicants. It was started in January, 1986 and is financed by the Swedish Immigration Board. Sixty percent of the patients are war-wounded and 40% have diagnoses non-related to war. This article describes a group of 19 refugees who were the war-wounded patients at this ward in June, 1986. In most of them the main medical impairment was amputation. They were followed up in 1988 by interview and self-ratings. The aim was to illuminate their quality of life after 2-3 years in Sweden. Most of them were satisfied with their external living conditions. Their psychological well-being, however, was not so good and they were very occupied by thoughts of their native countries. Their physical handicaps seemed to be of secondary importance.
Sandstedt
A C
AC
Medical Center for Refugees, University Hospital, Linköping.
Carlsson
V A
VA
Hörnquist
J O
JO
Thyberg
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology*; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*