• Leanne M Aitken, Wendy Chaboyer, Michael Schuetz, Christopher Joyce, and Bonnie Macfarlane.
• Research Centre for Clinical and Community Practice Innovation (RCCCPI), Griffith University & Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
• J Clin Nurs. 2014 Mar 1;23(5-6):704-15.

Aims And ObjectivesTo describe the recovery of trauma intensive care patients up to six months posthospital discharge.BackgroundInjury is a leading cause of preventable mortality and morbidity worldwide, with approximately 10% of hospitalised trauma patients being admitted to intensive care. Intensive care patients experience significant ongoing physical and psychological burden after discharge; however, the patterns of recovery and the subgroups of intensive care patients who experience the greatest burden are not described.DesignThis prospective cohort study was conducted in one tertiary referral hospital in south-east Queensland, Australia.MethodsFollowing ethics approval, injured patients who required admission to intensive care provided consent. Participants completed questionnaires prior to hospital discharge (n = 123) and one (n = 93) and six months (n = 88) later. Data included demographic and socioeconomic details, pre-injury health, injury characteristics, acute care factors, postacute factors [self-efficacy, illness perception, perceived social support and psychological status as measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the PTSD Civilian Checklist] and health status (SF-36).ResultsAll participants required ongoing support from healthcare providers in the six months after discharge from hospital, and approximately half required support services such as accommodation and home modifications. Approximately 20% of participants reported post-traumatic stress symptoms, while approximately half the participants reported psychological distress. Average quality of life scores were significantly below the Australian norms both one and six months postdischarge.ConclusionsTrauma intensive care patients rely on ongoing healthcare professional and social support services. Compromised health-related quality of life and psychological health persists at six months.Relevance To Clinical PracticeEffective discharge planning and communication across the care continuum is essential to facilitate access to healthcare providers and other support services in the community setting.© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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