Long-term outcomes of seriously injured children: a study using the Child Health Questionnaire

Davey, Tamzyn M., Aitken, Leanne M., Kassulke, Desley, Bellamy, Nicholas, Ambrose, Jane, Gee, Travis, and Clark, Michelle (2005) Long-term outcomes of seriously injured children: a study using the Child Health Questionnaire. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 41 (5-6). pp. 278-283.

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children 1–2 years after they had sustained an injury.

Methods: Parents of all children who were identified by the Queensland Trauma Registry during their admission to either of the two paediatric specialty hospitals in Brisbane, Australia, for the treatment of an injury, were invited to participate in this study. Parents who consented to participation received a copy of the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) that required them to provide information regarding their child's HRQoL following injury. The CHQ scores for the study respondents were compared with those of the Australian norms. This study was approved by the relevant ethics committees.

Results: Two hundred and forty-one completed questionnaires were returned. The majority of cases were male (65%) and there was even representation across all age groups. The majority of injuries were considered to be minor (81%) and were predominantly the result of falls and cycling accidents causing mainly fractures and intracranial injury. On the majority of subscales of the CHQ, study participants recorded scores that were statistically significantly below those of the Australian norms. None of the relevant variables collected by the Queensland Trauma Registry were found to predict scores on the CHQ in this study (for those children hospitalized for >24 h).

Conclusion: Injured children are worse off than their Australian counterparts in terms of HRQoL even up to 2 years following an injury. Further research needs to be undertaken to identify factors that predict lower HRQoL in order to reduce the burden of injury on children and their families.

Item ID: 6649
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1440-1754
Keywords: child health; child health questionnaire; health outcomes; health related quality of life; seriously injured children; outcomes research; paediatrics; wounds and injuries
Date Deposited: 07 Feb 2010 23:45
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111706 Epidemiology @ 50%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111704 Community Child Health @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920501 Child Health @ 51%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920408 Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being) @ 49%
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