Relationships between the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) and the SF-36 among young adults burned as children.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between two measures that can be used to examine quality life among pediatric burn survivors.


METHODS
Prospective, correlational study.


METHODS
Acute and rehabilitation pediatric burn care facility.


METHODS
Eighty young adult survivors of pediatric burns, who were 18-28 years of age, with burns of 30% or greater, and were at least 2 years after burn.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The SF-36 and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) were used to assess participant's self-reported general health and long-term adjustment.


RESULTS
Significant correlations (p< or =0.001) were found between the total quality of life score of the QLQ and the mental component scale of the SF-36. However, no significant correlations were found between the total quality of life score of the QLQ and the SF-36 physical component scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Approximately 100,000 children are treated for burns annually, with a high percentage surviving, creating a challenge for health care professionals who need to prepare burn survivors with their psychosocial and physical well-being as adults. This study found that the SF-36 and QLQ are measuring somewhat different aspects of psychosocial and physical adjustment. It is recommended that both tools could be useful to the burn practitioner in assessing quality of life.
Baker
Christine P
CP
School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States; Shriners Hospitals for Children, Shriners Burns Hospital, Galveston, TX 77555-1144, USA. cbaker@utmb.edu
Rosenberg
Marta
M
Mossberg
Kurt A
KA
Holzer
Charles
C
Blakeney
Patricia
P
Robert
Rhonda
R
Thomas
Christopher
C
Meyer
Walter
W
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002056:Burns / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult