Relationship between symptom experiences and quality of life in liver transplant recipients / 中华护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To describe symptom experiences and quality of life (QOL) in liver transplant recipients and explore the relationship between them,in order to provide a scientific basis and new directions for clinical assessment and intervention to improve QOL of them. Methods One hundred and thirty-seven liver transplant recipients who received liver transplantation from 1999 to 2008 were recruited in this study. They were investigated with The SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire and Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale (MTSOSD). Results Liver transplant recipients experienced many symptoms (median 17,range 2-30). The most commen symptoms were：fatigue and drowsy,sleeplessness,mood swings,dizzy and headache,abdominal distension,and diarrhea,which distressed more than half of the recipients. Compared with a reference general population,the liver transplant recipients showed a significantly worse QOL score (P＜0.01). The result of stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the total score of symptom experiences,surviving time after transplantation operation,family income and social support score were significant predictors of QOL. Conclusion Liver transplant recipients suffer from complex symptom experiences after transplantation operation. Symptom management is imperative to be embraced in long-term care planning for liver transplant recipients and effective symptom intervention will result in improved QOL.