Quality of life of burn survivors treated in the military burn center

Background: Limited research explains the quality of life (QOL) among burn survivors during post-hospitalization rehabilitation. Purpose: To determine the QOL of military and civilian burn survivors treated in the military burn center. Methods: In this longitudinal study, QOL was examined in 131 burn survivors (88 civilians; 43 military). Participants completed the Abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale (BSHS-A) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) over 5 time points post-discharge. Discussion: Civilian and military participants reported improved QOL over time on most BSHS-A subscales. Military participants had higher global BSHS-A scores at discharge, but at 6 months plateaued while civilians improved and had higher global BSHS-A scores at 18 months. Scores on the SWLS were consistently higher for military participants than for civilians. Conclusion: Military versus civilian patients may have different expectations about their ability to rehabilitate. The post-hospitalization period needs to be better understood to develop appropriate QOL interventions.