Purpose

To assess health-related-quality of life (HRQOL) after the end of war and its associated factors among soldiers with permanent limb disabilities in Sri Lanka

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 500 rehabilitated and socially re-integrated Army soldiers having permanent disability following traumatic limb injuries during the last year of ethnic conflict of Sri Lanka. Females, soldiers with no updated data, and soldiers having permanent deafness/total blindness/total brain or spinal cord injury were excluded. The sample was randomly selected from updated ‘Disabled Category Registries’. Personal and injury data were collected through postal questionnaire. HRQOL was assessed using SF-36 tool validated for Sri Lankan soldiers.

Results

SF-36 scores obtained on HRQOL related to overall physical health (mean = 57.1; SD = 19) and mental health (mean = 58.8; SD = 17.2) were comparable. HRQOL was best in social functioning (mean = 73.4; SD = 24) and worst in vitality (mean = 48.4; SD = 15.5). Factors significantly associated with better HRQOL related to the overall physical and mental health were aged over 35 years, being married, being assigned duties, having only upper/lower limbs affected and absence of co-disability. Having duties assigned demonstrated better QOL in almost all domains. None were associated with income or education.

Conclusions

Physical and mental health components contribute equally to the HRQOL of rehabilitated soldiers with permanent limb disabilty. Their poorer HRQOL was determined by certain person- and injury-related factors. These need to be addressed during re-integration and post-rehabilitation services.

中文翻译：

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肢体创伤后永久残疾的社区重新融入社会的士兵的生活质量及其决定因素。

目的

评估战争结束后斯里兰卡永久性肢体残疾士兵的健康相关生活质量（HRQOL）及其相关因素

方法

在斯里兰卡种族冲突的最后一年中，对500名在肢体受伤后具有永久性残疾的，经过康复和社会重新融入社会的士兵进行了横断面研究。女性，没有更新数据的士兵以及永久性耳聋/全盲/全脑或脊髓损伤的士兵被排除在外。该样本是从更新的“禁用类别注册表”中随机选择的。通过邮政调查表收集人身和伤害数据。使用经斯里兰卡士兵验证的SF-36工具评估了HRQOL。

结果

在HRQOL上获得的SF-36得分与总体身体健康（平均值= 57.1； SD = 19）和精神健康（平均值= 58.8； SD = 17.2）相关。HRQOL在社交功能方面最好（平均= 73.4； SD = 24），而在活力方面则最差（平均48.4； SD = 15.5）。与总体身心健康相关的HRQOL改善与显着相关的因素是，年龄超过35岁，已婚，被分配职责，仅上肢/下肢受到影响且没有共残障。分配职责在几乎所有领域都表现出更好的QOL。没有人与收入或教育有关。

结论

身体和精神健康成分对肢体永久残疾的康复士兵的HRQOL做出同等贡献。他们较差的HRQOL由某些与人和伤害相关的因素决定。在重返社会和康复后服务期间，必须解决这些问题。