ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to assess the employment rate among kidney and liver transplant recipients in Poland and identify the predictors of employment.SettingsThe study was based on a self-prepared questionnaire containing five parts: demographic data and professional, medical, physical and psychological factors. This is a multicentre study involving four hospitals in Poland.ParticipantsThe investigated group consisted of 285 individuals (92 women and 185 men; 8 no sex given) aged between 18 and 45 years who underwent kidney or liver transplantation 1–5 years prior. Because of missing data, 279 questionnaires were considered regarding employment status after transplantation and 277 when sex differences were considered.ResultsA total of 120 patients (43%) worked full-time, 42 (15%) part-time and 117 (42%) remained unemployed, with a higher employment rate post-transplantation among men than women (60% vs 55%, p=0.04). More women performed white collar work (74% vs 41%, p=0.0003) and had to modify their working position than men (22% vs 7%, p=0.0118). Factors determining employment after transplantation included higher level of education (OR=27.08; p=0.0096), employment 1 year prior to transplantation (OR=11.05; p<0.001) and good psychological adaptation (OR=4.23; p<0.001). Men working the year before transplantation had higher education (OR=9.66; p=0.0356). Among men, more kidney recipients worked compared with liver recipients (OR=3.567; p=0.0417). Among women, age determined employment status (OR=0.89; p=0.0234).ConclusionHigher education is the most important predictor of employment after transplantation. Therefore, rehabilitation programmes including vocational activity should be directed to increase the level of education, both pretransplantation and post-transplantation if possible.

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Introduction: Regular physical activity results in many health benefits, however many studies indicate that the level of activity of patients after transplantation is low. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of daily physical activity in patients after liver (LTx) or kidney transplantation (KTx) and the usefulness of a selfmonitoring method in increasing their daily physical activity. Material and methods: Patients after LTx or KTx (n=100) has been enrolled to the study and were randomly assigned to either an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). Ninety-four participants completed the 3 month period of observation. Participants assigned to IG were monitoring their daily physical activity using a pedometer and were required to complete a diary of daily number of steps. The level of physical activity was also assessed by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In the statistical analysis the parametric and non-parametric tests has been used in consistency with data distribution. A value of P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results:The average daily number of steps in pre/posttest in both study groups was less than 7600. A significant relationship between the average daily number of steps and daily Total Physical Activity Score TPAS/day [MET-min/day] (p<0.001; r=0.57). The study did not revealed any effects of intervention. Conclusions: Daily physical activity in patients after KTx or LTx is low, but it does not differ from healthy populations (<7500 steps). In post-transplant comprehensive medical management, long-term physical activity recommendations could be included on a par with the early post-surgery physiotherapy.