Satisfaction Level and Quality of Life of patients Living with Split-Thickness Skin Graft, Following a Burn Injury in Burns Unit of the National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Abstract

Burn is one form of traumatic injury and also a global public health problem. A high prevalence of burn injury rate is reported in low and middle-income countries and African and south-east Asian countries. The study aimed to describe the satisfaction and quality of life of patients with split-thickness skin grafts. A mixed method was used to conduct the study and the data were collected from post-split thickness skin graft patients, who participated in the Burn Clinic in the National Hospital, Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and a simple random sample (n=109) of burn victims was selected to conduct the quantitative survey. The qualitative phase was conducted through in-depth interviews and using a purposive sample. Data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 20 and the thematic analysis method. Many of the burn victims’ age ranges were 18-24 years (24.8%). The majority 61.5% were married. Each sub-domains of the SF36 is divided into physical and mental health According to the chi-square test. There was a positive association between physical health and mental health (0.001). Assessed mean value of the SF36 Scale by used total sum of the questionnaire. It called “Average Mean” of the study (Mean=54.29; High QOL >54.29; Low QOL< 54.29). Finally, the quality of life was measured by using that average mean results of that, the post -split-thickness skin graft patients had high scores of quality of life 57 (52.3%, Mean> 54.29). Next thematic analysis in the qualitative phase identified three themes. They are: ‘satisfied with ‘new skin’, ‘living with split-thickness skin grafts’ and ‘are willing to participate in future activities’. Also, the qualitative results supported the quantitative findings. The conclusion of the findings revealed that quality of life was compromised in the majority of post-burn patients. But after facing split thickness graft surgery most victims reported a high quality of life and high satisfaction level than others. Keywords: QOL; Split Thickness Skin Graft; Short Form health survey 36