Psychosocial versus clinical factors influencing QoL among renal transplant recipients

2013 IJRSP – Volume 2 Issue 1

Author/s:

Kamran, Fatima*
University of Surrey, United Kingdom (f.kamran@surrey.ac.uk)

Fife Schaw, Chris
University of Surrey, United Kingdom (c.fife-schaw@surrey.ac.uk)

Ogden, Jane
University of Surrey, United Kingdom (Ogden.j@surrey.ac.uk)

Abstract:

A longitudinal study was carried out to investigate the contribution of psychosocial and clinical factors in influencing satisfaction with Quality of Life (QoL) after renal transplantation. Renal transplant recipients were assessed at three times over a period of 15 months in Lahore (Pakistan). Our study aimed to analyze if QoL and perceptions of it are likely to be influenced by both psychosocial factors and the recipient’s physical well-being related to the degree to which the transplant has been effective. The psychosocial variables included depression levels, perceived health status, life orientation (optimism) and conscientiousness. Clinical data comprised of their renal functioning, blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure as health indicators. Recipients need to comply with immunosuppressant medicines on life-long basis for graft survival. Compliance was assessed by recording their blood immunosuppressant levels. The results indicated that across all three waves, psychosocial factors consistently appeared to be stronger predictors of QoL satisfaction than the clinical factors. Renal functions were found to be the only significant clinical predictors of QoL.

Keywords: quality of life; post operation; clinical predictors; psychosocial predictors; longitudinal study

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsp.2012.159

*Corresponding Author