The HRQoL of renal transplant patients.
BACKGROUND
After undergoing kidney transplant surgery, patients face many new challenges. For example, they face new pathologies associated with the complex medical regimens that they will need to follow rigorously for the rest of their lives. They live with the uncertainty and fear of organ rejection. They will also need to acquire new skills to take care of themselves, such as recognizing the signs and symptoms of impending infection and rejection. This suggests that once a transplant has been performed and the patient has been discharged with a functioning graft, the patient must continue to deal with a life of chronic illness.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore health-related quality of life of Chinese kidney transplant patients in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Non-structured interviews were conducted. The transcripts were analysed by qualitative content analysis. Codes were used to identify a passage of text that the researcher interprets as having a particular meaning. Data analysis is an iterative process. The codes emerging from each new interview were analysed together with the codes which had previously emerged. Across the dataset, codes were compared for similarities and differences, both within and across interviews. Codes of common property were clustered into categories. The transcripts were re-read and checked against the categories until there was no more to be gleaned, and the titles of the categories reflected the totality of that experience. Interviews were conducted until unique categories were no longer identified. There were 31 participants.


RESULTS
The participants are complying with medication regimens and nursing recommendations. Although new symptoms related to the medication regime surfaced, participants commented that they improved markedly in physical and social functioning, and have a better quality of life as a whole. Participants expressed their needs regarding information on the side effects of medications, proper exercise and diet.


CONCLUSIONS
To optimize post-transplant quality of life, a follow-up rehabilitation programme is recommended.


CONCLUSIONS
Rich and meaningful insights about the perceptions and experiences of renal patients after transplantion can be obtained in this study. Having known the real needs of patients, nurses can develop strategies to help patients to cope with the demands of life with a renal graft, from the early days of convalescence to re-integration into work, family responsibilities and life beyond.
Luk
Weety Suet-Ching
WS
Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hum, Kowloon, Hong Kong. hswluk@polyu.edu.hk
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists