Quality of Life of Post Severe Burns Patients at the Burns Center of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Burns is a global public health problem and the eighth commonest cause of death in the world (Stokes, 2017). Severe burns mostly have long lasting effect on the quality of life of people with persisting problems associated with weakness, scarring, itching, and pain (Moi et al., 2016). Objective: The main objective of the study was to examine the quality of life and associated factors among post-severe burns patients at the Burns Center of the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving a complete enumeration sampling technique was used to select 147 post severe burn injured patients at the Burns Center of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. The data collected using questionnaires were analysed using statistical tests such as chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions. Results: The overall proportion of severe burn injured patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana was 78%. The overall quality of life of post severe burn injured patients at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana had mean 3.195 (SD± 0.84). Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that female patients, older patients, and patients with a higher percentage of full thickness surface area burns are of greater risk for quality of life after severe burn injury. The study recommends that adequate monitoring after discharge should be enforced due to the complexity of burn care outcome, at the Burns Center at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.