title: Predictors of health-related quality of life over time among pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.
abstract: Advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have contributed to increased survival for pediatric patients. However, there are inconsistent findings regarding the impact of HSCT on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes for children. This study aimed to establish trajectories of HRQOL following HSCT and identify predictors of the HRQOL course.
  
  
  
  Ninety caregivers of a child who received HSCT (mean age = 6.42 years) for various oncologic, immunologic, and metabolic conditions completed questionnaires regarding family psychosocial functioning and child HRQOL at the time of discharge from HSCT and follow-up HRQOL at four additional time points.
  
  
  
  There was a significant change in overall HRQOL in 3 months postdischarge, with the greatest improvement in physical functioning. Caregiver stress and social support, and child psychosocial problems predicted changes in HRQOL over time.
  
  
  
  These results point to potentially modifiable factors that are related to the course of HRQOL following HSCT, and interventions aimed at these factors should be implemented.
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Loiselle
authors.affiliation: Center for Biobehavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rausch
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bidwell
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Stella M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Center for Treatment Adherence and Self-Management, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Ahna L H
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pai
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: cancer; children; health-related quality of life; hematopoietic stem cell transplant; oncology