Relationships between the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) and the SF-36 among young adults burned as children

Objective: To examine the relationship between two measures that can be used to examine quality life among pediatric burn survivors. Design: Prospective, correlational study. Setting: Acute and rehabilitation pediatric burn care facility. Participants: Eighty young adult survivors of pediatric burns, who were 18-28 years of age, with burns of 30% or greater, and were at least 2 years after burn. Interventions: Not applicable. Main outcome measures: The SF-36 and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ) were used to assess participant's self-reported general health and long-term adjustment. Results: Significant correlations (p ≤ 0.001) were found between the total quality of life score of the QLQ and the mental component scale of the SF-36. However, no significant correlations were found between the total quality of life score of the QLQ and the SF-36 physical component scale. Conclusions: Approximately 100,000 children are treated for burns annually, with a high percentage surviving, creating a challenge for health care professionals who need to prepare burn survivors with their psychosocial and physical well-being as adults. This study found that the SF-36 and QLQ are measuring somewhat different aspects of psychosocial and physical adjustment. It is recommended that both tools could be useful to the burn practitioner in assessing quality of life.