title: Experiences and barriers to Health-Related Quality of Life following liver transplantation: a qualitative analysis of the perspectives of pediatric patients and their parents.
abstract: This paper examines health-related quality of life (HRQOL) experiences and barriers facing young people who have received a liver transplant (LT). Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with children and adolescents who have undergone LT and their parents. Findings indicate that LT fosters substantially improved child and adolescent HRQOL; however, young people also experience challenges such as difficulties with medication compliance, self-management of care routines, physical activity restrictions, and undesirable medical procedures. Implications and recommendations for clinical practice and research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. nicholas@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Nicholas
authors.forename: Anthony R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Otley
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dhawan
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilmour
authors.forename: Vicky Lee
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011788:Quality of Life