Health-related quality of life and employment among renal transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HQoL) and employment status in renal transplant recipients (RTRs).


METHODS
Eighty-two RTRs met inclusion criteria: 21-65 yr of age; greater than one yr post-transplant; and received calcineurin inhibitors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a demographics questionnaire and the following HQoL instruments: SF-12 Health Survey version 2 (Physical Component Summary [PCS-12] and Mental Component Summary [MCS-12]) and Kidney Transplant Questionnaire (KTQ). Two multivariate logistic regression analyses (SF-12 model and KTQ model) were conducted to determine whether HQoL and demographic variables were independently associated with employment status.


RESULTS
Seventy-five RTRs were included in the analysis. Compared with employed RTRs, a greater number of unemployed RTRs were non-white, had lower education levels, and had deceased donor transplants (p < 0.05). Employed RTRs had significantly higher SF-12 scores (p < 0.05). In the SF-12 logistic regression model, PCS-12 and education level were significant predictors of employment status (p < 0.05). In the KTQ model, the Fatigue subscale and education level were significant predictors of employment status (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest higher PCS-12, higher KTQ-Fatigue, and education level are independently associated with employment status. Interventions targeted to improve HQoL, decrease fatigue, and increase education level are discussed.
The University of Arizona Colleges of Pharmacy and Medicine, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. chisholm@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Marie A
MA
Chisholm-Burns
Steven R
SR
Erickson
Christina A
CA
Spivey
Bruce
B
Kaplan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult