title: Psychological functioning, nonadherence and health outcomes after pediatric liver transplantation.
abstract: The present study empirically assessed the relationships between adherence behaviors and HRQOL, parent and child psychological functioning and family functioning, and investigated the relationship between adherence behaviors and health outcomes in children who were within 5 years of their liver transplantation. Participants included 38 children (mean = 8.5 years, range 28 months to 16 years) and their parent/guardian(s). HRQOL and psychological functioning were examined using well-validated assessment measures. Measures of adherence included the rate of clinic attendance and standard deviations (SDs) of consecutive tacrolimus blood levels, which were collected and evaluated retrospectively. Measures of child health status included the frequency of hospital admissions, liver biopsies, episodes of rejection and graft function for the year prior to study participation. Results indicated that nonadherence was related to lower physical HRQOL, more limitations in social and school activities related to emotional and behavioral problems, parental emotional distress and decreased family cohesion. Nonadherence was also related to frequency and duration of hospitalizations, liver biopsies and rejection episodes. These results suggest that empirically based assessment of HRQOL, parenting stress and family functioning may help identify patients at risk for nonadherence, and may allow for the need-based delivery of appropriate clinical interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. emfred@med.umich.edu
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fredericks
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Magee
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shieck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Opipari-Arrigan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016312:Treatment Refusal
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents