The Meningitis Trust provided funding to develop a specific Quality of Life (QOL) measure for survivors of meningococcal disease in adolescence and young adulthood. The Satisfaction with Life after Meningococcal disease (SLAM) questionnaire that has been developed consists of a 39-item measure of Quality Of Life for meningococcal disease survivors aged 15-26 years.

The questionnaire provides clinicians with the opportunity to explore survivors’ attitudes to life following recovery and will encourage discussion as to where support would be best targeted. The questionnaire was developed with the involvement of meningococcal disease survivors and therefore is relevant and accessible to young people. It will enable health professionals to work with young people to consider how to address areas where satisfaction is low. It is also likely to be a valuable tool for researchers in assessing Quality of Life in young meningococcal disease survivors.

Rather than having to administer different questionnaires to determine potential depression, social support, health status and general health, this single questionnaire identifies the areas that matter to young people who are meningococcal disease survivors.

Overall young people are doing well. However, cognitive outcomes and physical health satisfaction are two areas that stand out as being of greatest concern.

The researchers are currently preparing manuscripts for publication in international peer-reviewed journals reporting reduced QOL in survivors of meningococcal disease in adolescence and describing the development of the SLAM questionnaire.