Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Caregivers' Quality of Life.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Bastos Tavares, Ana Paula Seixas, Lucas Belém Pessôa de Melo Guerra Jayme, Caren Lopes Wanderlei Porta, Gilda Seixas, Renata Belém Pessôa de Melo de Carvalho, Elisa
Copyright Year	2022
Abstract	PurposeThe survival rate of pediatric patients undergoing liver transplantation has increased considerably. Despite this, the period after transplantation is still complex and poses several challenges to the recipient’s family, which is responsible for care management. Recently, more attention has been paid to the impact of this complex procedure on the quality of life of caregivers. Hence, this study is aimed at assessing the quality of life of caregivers of patients who have undergone liver transplantation and the aspects that influence it.MethodsThis was an observational and cross-sectional study. From November 2020 to January 2021, short-form-36 questionnaires and additional questions were given to the main caregivers of children and adolescents who underwent pediatric liver transplantation.ResultsThirty-eight questionnaires were completed and the results revealed a lower quality of life in comparison to Brazilian standards, primarily in the mental domains (41.8±14.1 vs. 51.1±2.8; p<0.001). It did not show a significant association with socioeconomic or transplant-related factors, but it did show a negative impact on parents’ perception of the child’s health. Parents who reported worse health status for their children had a lower mental quality of life (44.1±13.8 vs. 33.3±12.6; p<0.05).ConclusionThe caregivers of transplanted children have a lower quality of life than those of the local population. Psychological assistance should be routinely provided to parents for long-term follow-up to mitigate potential negative effects on the transplanted child’s care.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC9679308&blobtype=pdf
ISSN	22348646
Journal	Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition [Pediatr Gastroenterol Hepatol Nutr]
Volume Number	25
DOI	10.5223/pghn.2022.25.6.489
PubMed Central reference number	PMC9679308
Issue Number	6
PubMed reference number	36451695
e-ISSN	22348840
Language	English
Publisher	The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Publisher Date	2022-11-02
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Copyright © 2022 by The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Subject Keyword	Liver transplantation Liver Pediatrics Quality of life Caregivers
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Hepatology Gastroenterology Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health