Factors associated with health-related quality of life in kidney transplant recipients in Korea

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of kidney transplant recipients is an outcome evaluation after kidney transplants. Therefore, we investigated the associations among perceived health status, social support, self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and kidney transplant recipients’ HRQOL. This study involved a descriptive, self-report survey of 163 kidney transplant recipients visiting an outpatient solid organ transplant center in South Korea. Participants’ general and transplant characteristics, perceived health status, post-traumatic growth, social support, self-determination, and HRQOL were collected. Data were statistically analyzed using the software SPSS version 25.0. HRQOL showed statistically significant positive correlation with perceived health status (r = .56, p < .001), post-traumatic growth (r = .18, p = .022), social support (r = .25, p = .002), and self-determination (r = .36, p < .001). The factors affecting HRQOL were perceived health status (β = 0.47, p < 0.001), post-transplant occupation (β = 0.17, p = 0.009), and income source (β = -0.13, p = 0.046). The explanatory power of these variables was 34.8% (F = 28.81, p < 0.001). In the subdomains of HRQOL, the factors influencing HRQOL of mental component summary were perceived health status (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), self-determination (β = 0.27, p < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.18, p = 0.006). The explanatory power of these variables was 34.8% (F = 28.81, p < 0.001). To promote the HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients, an institutional system to assist kidney transplant recipients in returning to work needs to be developed. Additionally, creating an environment that allows kidney transplant recipients to act with self-determination, and developing intervention programs that can enhance self-determination will contribute to enhancing the HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-Traumatic Growth following Kidney Transplantation

“…Second, and in contrast, PTG was associated with improved kidney function (30,31), HRQOL (28), and physical activity (33). Recipients of living donor organs, and those with no prior history of organ rejection, had higher average PTGI scores (30,31,34) (Table 3).…”

“…Higher (better) PTG scores were associated with higher health-related QOL (HRQOL) (r=0.18;p=0.022) (28), and two PTG subscales associated with improved kidney function ( "spiritual change" subscale, C=7.43, p=0.024; "appreciation of life" subscale, C=7.06, p=0.029) (31); PTG positively correlated with autonomous self-regulation (R 2 = 0.08), which itself positively correlated with physical activity, (R 2 = 0.12) (33), while lower (worse) PTG scores were associated with increased rate of graft rejection (OR=0.963;p<0.05) (30). Factors that appeared to either predict or correlate with higher PTG included female sex (F=4.2;p<0.05) (27); greater resilience (ρ=0.403 (LDKT), 0.454 (DDKT); p<0.01) (34), social support (r=0.57;p<0.001) (28), and self-determination (r=0.33;p<0.001) (28); perceived health status (r=0.32;p<0.001) (28); and positive affective tone (ρ=0.22-0.28;p<0.05) (35). Demoralization was associated with lower PTG scores (appreciation of life subscale, p<0.05) (27).…”

The Effect of Social Support and Spiritual Well-Being on Posttraumatic Growth in Dialysis Patients and Their Caregivers

“…The results of the current study also showed that posttraumatic growth increased as perceived social support and spiritual well-being increased in both the patient and caregiver groups. Studies carried out with different patient groups have found a positive correlation between posttraumatic growth and social support [9,[36][37][38], between posttraumatic growth and spirituality [38]; and between social support and spirituality [9].…”

“…No study investigating the effect of spirituality on posttraumatic growth in dialysis patients and their caregivers was found. However, studies conducted with patients who had cancer showed that social support [36]; and spirituality [39]; a study conducted with patients who had myocardial infarction [40] showed that spirituality affected posttraumatic growth.…”

Quality of life for kidney transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

“…The literature shows mixed findings regarding whether kidney transplantation is associated with clinically important improvement in HRQOL [19][20][21]. In addition, research findings indicate that HRQOL among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is influenced by diverse factors, including perceived health status, mental health, and socioeconomic factors [15,22,23]. Research examining HRQOL among KTRs and hemodialysis (HD) patients in the Middle East is sparse.…”