Evaluation of the effects of disabilities due to traffic accidents on the quality of life using SF-36 health survey.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of disabilities caused by traffic accidents on quality of life using the SF-36 health survey.


METHODS
The study group included 168 patients (30 females and 138 males) injured in traffic accidents referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine to obtain health reports indicating their degree of disability. One hundred twenty-two cases comprised the control group. The degree of disability for the injured body parts was determined based on the related section of the Disability Regulation for patients regarded as recovered based on examination and consultation. Quality of life was calculated using the SF-36 survey. Patients were additionally evaluated using the physical and mental component summary PCS/MCS) scores.


RESULTS
A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of the injured body parts. The femur, tibia and/or fibula, vertebrae, radius and/or ulna and the humerus were the most frequently fractured bones. The degree of disability in the patient group was 19.22 ± 17.73. Together with the scores of the eight subscales of SF-36, the PCS and MCS score in the patient group were significantly lower when compared to the control group (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
An update is required in the Disability Regulation, including the addition of items on deterioration in the quality of life and pain, and the use of the SF-36 scale may be beneficial in this regard.
Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mersin University, Turkey. nurselbilgin@yahoo.com
Nursel
N
Gamsiz Bilgin
Ertan
E
Mert
Melek
M
Sezgin
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*