Injury severity and 3-month outcomes among Māori: Results from a New Zealand prospective cohort study

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Wilson, Suzanne
  • Maclennan, Brett
  • Hokowhitu, Brendan
  • Wyeth, Emma

• Aims: To examine the prevalence of health and social outcomes pre- and 3 months post-injury, and the association between New Injury Severity Scores (NISS) and 3- month outcomes, for the Māori cohort of the Prospective Outcomes of Injury Study. Methods: New Zealand residents were recruited from the Accident Compensation Corporation’s entitlement claims register and participants interviewed at 3 months post-injury. Those who reported Māori ethnicity (n=566) were included in the Māori cohort. Results: States indicative of favourable health were less prevalent among the cohort post-injury than pre-injury for all measures examined. Approximately half the cohort were experiencing difficulties walking 3 months after their injury, over two-thirds a level of pain or discomfort, and more than half a level of psychological distress. The prevalence of disability was 49%. The prevalence of some adverse outcomes increased with increasing NISS but a high level of problems were still experienced by those classified as having a ‘minor’ injury. Nonetheless, a majority of the cohort were satisfied with life and they considered themselves to be of good to excellent overall health. Conclusions: Findings emphasise the importance of injury prevention and appropriate post-injury care to reduce the burden experienced by Māori due to injury.

• Date created

  2013

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Wounds and Injuries/complications
  • Risk Factors
  • Cohort Studies
  • Outcome Assessment (Health Care)/methods
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Adolescent Adult
  • Injury Severity Score

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3Z60C43D

• License

  © 2013 New Zealand Medical Association. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.