Effects of a rehabilitation programme on daily functioning, participation, health-related quality of life, anxiety and depression in liver transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
Fatigue is a chronic problem in liver transplant recipients and may influence daily functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a fatigue-reducing physical rehabilitation programme on daily functioning, participation, HRQoL, anxiety and depression among liver transplant recipients.


METHODS
Eighteen fatigued liver transplant recipients (mean age 51 years, 10 men/8 women) participated in a 12-week rehabilitation programme, which included supervised exercise training and daily physical activity counselling. We assessed pre- and post-programme health-related daily functioning, participation, HRQoL, anxiety and depression using questionnaires.


RESULTS
After the programme, patients showed improvements in daily functioning (23.6%, p = 0.007), the participation domain 'autonomy outdoors' (34.1%, p = 0.001), and the HRQoL domains 'physical functioning' (11.5%, p = 0.007) and 'vitality' (21.5%, p = 0.022). Anxiety and depression were unchanged post-programme.


CONCLUSIONS
Rehabilitation using supervised exercise training and daily physical activity counselling can positively influence daily functioning, participation and HRQoL among fatigued liver transplant recipients.
van Ginneken
B T J
BT
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van den Berg-Emons
H J G
HJ
Metselaar
H J
HJ
Tilanus
H W
HW
Kazemier
G
G
Stam
H J
HJ
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011788:Quality of Life; D055070:Resistance Training