Abstract

MELGUIZO-HERRERA, Estela; DIAZ-GOMEZ, Adriano A.  and  OSORIO-LAMBIS, Martha. The quality of life for people suffering from complex wounds in Cartagena, Colombia. Rev. salud pública [online]. 2011, vol.13, n.6, pp.942-952. ISSN 0124-0064.

Objective Estimating the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people suffering complex wounds who were receiving care in an extramural health service provider institution in Cartagena during May-June 2010. Materials and methods This was a quantitative, descriptive study where the population/sample consisted of 93 adults receiving care in an extramural health service provider institution's complex wounds program in the city of Cartagena. A questionnaire regarding socio-demographic characteristics, an observational guide on the characteristics of injuries and the Multicultural Quality of Life Index were used. SPSS 12.0 software was used for the statistical analysis. Results Mean age was 59.3 years, females predominated (61.3 %), 43.0 % were married, 38.7 % were housewives, 38.7 % had finished primary education, 68.8 % came from socioeconomic levels 2 and 3 and 93.5 % of the participants had health social security affiliation. Complex wounds were characterised by a greater percentage being in the proliferative phase of healing (80.6 %), measuring six to ten inches (63.4 %) no infection being reported (85%), no amputation (90.3 %) or wound-related pain (52.7 %) and presenting physical limitations related to the wound (66.7 %). Conclusions People perceived their HRQOL as poor, their low scores highlighting low personal fulfillment, occupational functioning and physical and psychological wellbeing.

Keywords : Quality of life; public health; wound; injury.

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