[Methodological studies on the evaluation of family burden due to injuries].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the method for describing the burden and dimensions of injury on family.


METHODS
Eighty-four families of patients with injury from the selected families were studied. Status on family function, including before and after the suffering disease, were measured with Family APGAR index. Present family function was re-measured one week after the initial study. The burden of injury on these families was measured with Family Burden Score.


RESULTS
There were significant differences (P < 0.01) between scores of APGAR before and after the onset of injury. Forty-one point six seven percent of the families were with dysfunctions prior to the injuries, while 89.29% of families having dysfunctions for the time being. There were universal burden on the families of patients with injury in multi-dimensions, including economic status, routine life, entertainment, relationship between members, physiological and psychological health of the members, and social relationship of and within the families.


CONCLUSIONS
Injury may bring impacts to the patient's family in multi-dimensions and induce dysfunction to patient's family. Both patients and their families should be involved when providing health care to and evaluating burden of injury on them.
Lu
F
F
Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, CAPM, Beijing 100050, China.
Zeng
G
G
Zhong
T
T
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*