Quality of life among the navies and their spouses survivors, six months after the tsunami disaster in Phang-Nga Naval Base, Thailand

Abstract

Objective: Identify the consequences for the survivors of the Tsunami disaster on health related quality of life among members of the Navy and their spouses, six months after the disaster. Material and Method: Using a structured questionnaire modified from the MOS SF-36. Four hundred thirty four subjects participated in the present study. The sample was male (77%), married (67%) and mean age was 34 years old. Results: The quality of life scores among member of the Navy or their spouses were lower than the 2006 Thailand normative data in almost all subscales except physical functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning subscales. The major consequence of the Tsunami was mental health problems. A majority of the survivors who seriously experienced mental problems were female, low education, decreased income, loss of one's family members/loved ones, or property. Conclusion: To improve their quality of life, these people required appropriate social support and physical and mental health care. Bodily pain was the only an indicator subscale of QOL that was statistically significantly associated with Tsunami exposure. The QOL measures provided essential data and information that helped healthcare providers identify survivors' needs and outcomes and therefore, knowledge of the changes in QOL over the time after Tsunami might help guide health programs to efficiently allocate resources at different times.