quality of life in patients with burns of the upper limbs and factors associated with poor quality of life at kiruddu national referral hospital

Description

Introduction: Upper limb burns can result in a number of devastating functional impairment and social consequences that can reduce the quality of life. Burns are the major cause of disability in developing countries, and the majority of burned patients had burns that involved upper limbs. Upper limb burns have a negative impact on the quality of people’s lives by scarring, contractures, and weakness these will lead to limitations of the range of movements and social wellbeing. General objective: To determine the quality of life among patients with burns of the upper limbs at KNRH. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study recruited 108 participants of 5 years and above during their first six months’ post-discharge from Kiruddu National Referral Hospital with burns of upper limbs. Recruitment was consecutive from the burns unit clinic following ethical approval from the School of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (SOMREC). Participants were given a burn-related QOL questionnaire. Data were then entered into Epidata 4.2 and imported into STATA 15.1 for analysis. Factors associated with poor quality of life were determined by modified Poisson regression to generate prevalence ratios with their 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 108 participants was recruited for the study, 97 (89.8%) were adults and responded to the adult QOL questionnaire while the rest were pediatrics. The mean age of the adults was 28 years (SD=8.6) while the median age of the pediatrics was 8 years (IQR =6-10) and 61.1% were male. The upper extremity function (physical) quality of life was good while the social relationship quality of life was poor. The factors associated with poor quality of life were degree(deep) of burns, multiple surgeries, age above 55 years, and being divorced Conclusions: There is generally poor upper extremity function or physical QOL among both adults and children while there is generally good social relationship QOL among adults and children. Recommendations: We recommend early physiotherapy and social support including occupation therapy and family support in patients with third and fourth-degree burns, long hospital stay, and multiple surgeries. We recommend giving special attention to old and divorced burn patients in terms of social support.