Differences in Quality of Life before Transplantation among Transplant Recipients with Respect to Selected Socioeconomic Variables

Abstract

Purpose To examine differences in quality of life before transplantation among transplant recipients with respect to a selected set of socioeconomic variables related to household/housing, family social and health history, and availability and use of community resources. Methods An exploratory-descriptive study in a US university's transplant clinic. Sample included 249 kidney, liver, and pancreas transplant recipients aged 18 years or older. Instruments were a socioeconomic data questionnaire, the Sickness Impact Profile, the Adult Self-Image Scale, the Quality of Life Index, and a general quality of life scale. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance with Bonferroni adjustment were used with a significance level of .05. Effect sizes were estimated. Results Quality of life did not differ significantly for any variable except for the use of private insurance combined with public health insurance. Such coverage was associated with significantly better scores on the psychosocial and total dimensions of the Sickness Impact Profile, indicating better health before transplantation. Conclusion Researchers must first explore why a mix of private and public health insurance is associated with a higher quality of life and second reexamine whether these results occur at other transplant centers. These results also provide direction for social work professionals as they counsel patients in an attempt to help patients achieve a better psychosocial and physical quality of life before transplantation.