The Quality of Life of Inguinal Hernia Patient in India: The Application of Hernia- Specific Quality of Life Assessment

Background:  In inguinal hernia patient post-operative recurrence rate has been decrease due to advancement in prosthetic mesh. The hernia outcome study should concentrate on hernia post-operative quality of life and various complications. Objectives: To study the application of HERQL INSTRUMENT in surgical practice. To study the quality of life pre-operatively & post-operatively. To utilise as HERQL INSTRUMENT in clinical management as a prognostic indicator to improve upon the healthcare system. Methodology: All the patients of inguinal hernia presenting to Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha as an elective/emergency case will be included in the study after obtaining consent. Patient has to go through the HERQL questionnaire pre-operatively and post-operatively or post-operatively only. These patients will be enrolled in the study. Results: We expect a causal relationship between formative symptomatic subscale and the reflective functional status demonstrated by HERQL. The assessment of summative pain in preoperative and immediate postoperative patient shows changes in summative pain and 3 month follow up suggestive of clinical response of HERQL. Conclusion: This study will help to know quality of life in “post-operative” hernia patient with the help of “HERQL instrument”.