Pediatric cardiac transplant: Quality of life of urban families

Abstract

<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: <strong>&nbsp;</strong>To describe quality of&nbsp; life (QoL) of pediatric cardiac transplant recipients and caregivers in an urban setting, to examine differences in QoL between recipients and caregivers, and to determine an effect on QoL by the number of years post-transplant.</p> <p><strong>Method</strong>:&nbsp; Data were collected from 24 pediatric cardiac transplant recipients and 22 caregivers. Participants completed the PedsQL &trade; 2.0 Family Impact Module and the PedsQL&trade; 3.0 Transplant Module.&nbsp; Parallel child / parent proxy report was used.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Results</strong>: Overall QoL score was positive for both caregivers and recipients. Statistical difference was found between caregivers and recipients in the Medication I Domain, Medication II Domain, and Transplant and Others Domain. &nbsp;Mean Medication II domain scores increased as the year&rsquo;s post- transplant increased.</p> <p><strong>Discussion</strong>:&nbsp; QoL assessments should be performed regularly and followed longitudinally for earlier identification of post cardiac transplant recipients and families in crisis.</p>