UQ study examines life after serious injury

A new University of Queensland study aims to help improve the lives of seriously injured people.

Each year a substantial number of Queenslanders die as a result of injury and nearly one in every 10 patients in Queensland hospitals is there because of an injury. While we know the extent of the problem at the hospital level, not much is known about the long term outcomes for those who survive an injury.

The Queensland Trauma Registry (QTR) in the Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD) is one of the major Trauma Registries in Australia. It collects and analyses data on injured people who are admitted for treatment at fourteen public hospitals at metropolitan, rural and remote locations across the State. Now, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Prehospital Research it is examining the long-term effects of serious injuries.

“Currently there is little information on the health and well-being of injured people and their families after they leave hospital,” said researcher Tamzyn Davey from UQ’s CONROD.

People who were admitted to these hospitals in recent months and have consented to follow up will be part of this important survey that will examine the quality of life of patients who have been injured.

“We hope that everyone who receives a questionnaire will complete it and return it to us because every response is valued in this important project,” Ms Davey said.

“It is possible that the quality of life of people who have sustained a serious injury will be poorer than others in the community.

“Information about the long-term effects of such injuries may lead to recommendations for change in the treatment and follow up of such patients. This will help reduce the impact of the injury and thus reduce the negative outcomes of injury,” she said.

Dr Desley Kassulke, manager of the Queensland Trauma Registry said that this study, together with the findings from a similar study on childhood injury last year, would help to complete the picture on outcomes and the cost of injury in Queensland.

Situated at UQ’s Mayne Medical School in Herston, QTR is funded by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission and Queensland Health.

Media: for further information, contact CONROD’s Dr Desley Kassulke (telephone 07 3365 5344, fax 07 3346 4603) or Marlene McKendry at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3346 4713, mob 0401 996847 or email m.mckendry@uq.edu.au).