Quality of life immediately after peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.
This prospective, longitudinal study investigated the quality of life among patients immediately after undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. The patients were assessed before transplantation (n = 16), immediately before hospital discharge (n = 10), 2 weeks after hospital discharge (n = 10), and 6 weeks after hospital discharge (n = 8). Patients completed the European Organization for Research and Training Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 and the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index at each assessment point. A brief telephone interview was conducted 6 weeks after hospitalization (n = 7). The study results indicate that patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation experience significant appetite loss (P <.01), diarrhea (P <.05), nausea and vomiting (P <.05), and sleep disturbances (P <.01) during the acute posttransplantation period. Other clinically important changes also were identified, so that a general pattern of recovery emerged. These patients reported diminished functional ability, increased symptoms, and poorer quality of life immediately before hospital discharge, with a return to pretransplantation levels by 6 weeks after hospitalization. In contrast, life satisfaction continued to decline 2 weeks after hospitalization, but did improve by 6 weeks. The qualitative data provide further support for this trend.
Hacker
Eileen Danaher
ED
College of Nursing, Department of Medical-Nurgical Nursing (M/C 802), University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612-7350, USA. ehacker@uic.edu
Ferrans
Carol Estwing
CE
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000209:etiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology