Health Related Quality of Life of Children Post Liver Transplantation versus Healthy Children

Background: Health-related quality of life in pediatric organ transplant recipients has progressively become an area of concern as patient survival and graft survival rates continue to expand. The aim of the present study was designed to assess the post liver-transplant health related quality of life versus healthy children. Methodology: Design: A descriptive, cross sectional design was used. Setting: The study was conducted in the pediatrics out-patient of National Liver Institute, Menoufia UniversityEgypt. Sample: A purposive sample of forty child post liver transplantation was selected from the above mentioned setting. Also, a simple random sample of 40 healthy child from primary and secondary schools of Shebin El-Kom city were recruited. Tools/ Instruments: A. structured interview questionnaire was utilized to collect biosocial characteristics of children and their parents and medical condition of children. B. Child Health Questionnaire–Child Self-Report form CHQ-CF87 to assess health related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: The mean age of liver transplanted Children were 10.77+_ 4.73 years compared to 10.09 +- 3.54 years in the control group, 47.5% of children did liver transplantation due to biliary atresia. Also, there was a highly statistically. significant difference between study and control groups concerninghealth related quality of life total mean score. Conclusion: Health related quality of life in a sample of pediatric liver transplant recipients were decreased compared with that of general population. Recommendations: Strategies to improve the coordination of nursing assessment/monitoring and perioperative care for liver transplant` children may improve outcome for childrenand institute the efficacy of a health education program on decreasing post liver transplantation complications.