title: Injury severity and 3-month outcomes among Maori: results from a New Zealand prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of health and social outcomes pre- and 3 months post-injury, and the association between New Injury Severity Scores (NISS) and 3-month outcomes, for the Maori cohort of the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study.
  
  
  METHODS
  New Zealand residents were recruited from the Accident Compensation Corporation's entitlement claims register and participants interviewed at 3 months post-injury. Those who reported Maori ethnicity (n=566) were included in the Maori cohort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  States indicative of favourable health were less prevalent among the cohort post-injury than pre-injury for all measures examined. Approximately half the cohort were experiencing difficulties walking 3 months after their injury, over two-thirds a level of pain or discomfort, and more than half a level of psychological distress. The prevalence of disability was 49%. The prevalence of some adverse outcomes increased with increasing NISS but a high level of problems were still experienced by those classified as having a 'minor' injury. Nonetheless, a majority of the cohort were satisfied with life and they considered themselves to be of good to excellent overall health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings emphasise the importance of injury prevention and appropriate post-injury care to reduce the burden experienced by Maori due to injury.
authors.affiliation: Te Roopu Rakahau Hauora Maori a Kai Tahu/ Ngai Tahu Maori Health Research Unit, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. emma.wyeth@otago.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maclennan
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wyeth
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hokowhitu
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derrett
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult