Last update:
21-Jul-2008

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was the assessment of the health-related quality of life of patients after a successful liver transplantation.

METHOD The study took place in Thessaloniki in 2005 and the sample was composed of 28 patients who had undergone a successful liver transplantation. The instrument used for the study was the SF-36 Health Interview Survey. The SF-36 questionnaires were administered by the method of self-report before the patients' visits to the outpatient services in the transplantation center.

RESULTS The patients' responses gave the following mean scores: (a) on the scales of physical health: bodily pain 77.7, physical function 67.3, general health 56.6, physical role 51.7, and (b) on the scales of psycho-social health: social function 72.7, mental health 71.0, vitality 60.5, emotional role 59.5. The estimation of the health-related quality of life was found to be dependent on total life satisfaction, the hospitalisation rate, the impact of the complications and the work ability, parameters which constitute the most important factors that influence both physical and psycho-social health.

CONCLUSIONS The transplanted liver patients report critical reduction of bodily pain impact in their daily activities and essential improvement of their social function and mental health. However, their general health and vitality and their fulfilment of roles concerning the physical and psycho-emotional state of their health are not improved accordingly.

Key words: Health-related quality of life, Health survey SF-36, Liver transplantation.