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Health status and return to work in trauma patients at 3 and 6 months post-discharge: an Australian major trauma centre study

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to describe post-discharge outcomes, and determine predictors of 3 and 6 months health status outcomes in a population of trauma patients at an inner city major trauma centre.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of adult trauma patients admitted to this hospital with 3 and 6 months post-discharge outcomes assessment. Outcome measures were the Physical Component Scores (PCS) and Mental Component Scores (MCS) of the Short Form 12, EQ-5D, and return to work (in any capacity) if working prior to injury. Repeated measures mixed models and generalised estimating equation models were used to determine predictors of outcomes at 3 and 6 months.

Results

One hundred and seventy-nine patients were followed up. Patients with lower limb injuries reported lower mean PCS scores between 3 and 6 months (coefficient −4.21, 95 % CI −7.58, −0.85) than those without lower limb injuries. Patients involved in pedestrian incidents or assaults and those with pre-existing mental health diagnoses reported lower mean MCS scores. In adjusted models upper limb injuries were associated with reduced odds of return to work at 3 and 6 months (OR 0.20, 95 % CI 0.07, 0.57) compared to those without upper limb injuries.

Discussion

Predictors of poorer physical health status were lower limb injuries and predictors of mental health were related to the mechanism of injury and past mental health. Increasing injury severity score and upper limb injuries were the only predictors of reduced return to work. The results provide insights into the feasibility of routine post-discharge follow-up at a trauma service level.

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Acknowledgments

We kindly thank Ms. Susan Roncal and Mr. Daniel Bedford for data collection and conducting follow-up telephone calls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 10, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia

    M. M. Dinh & K. Cornwall

  2. Emergency Department, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia

    K. J. Bein

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    B. J. Gabbe

  4. Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia

    M. M. Dinh & B. A. Tomes

  5. Injury Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Sydney, Australia

    M. M. Dinh & R. Ivers

Authors
  1. M. M. Dinh
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  2. K. Cornwall
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  3. K. J. Bein
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  4. B. J. Gabbe
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  5. B. A. Tomes
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  6. R. Ivers
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. M. Dinh.

Ethics declarations

The study was approved by the Sydney Local Health District Research Ethics Committee.

Conflict of interest

Michael Dinh, Kevin Cornwall, Kendall Bein, Bernadette Tomes, Belinda Gabbe, Rebecca Ivers declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dinh, M.M., Cornwall, K., Bein, K.J. et al. Health status and return to work in trauma patients at 3 and 6 months post-discharge: an Australian major trauma centre study. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 42, 483–490 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0558-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0558-0

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