[Usage of the WHOQOL-100 as a trial of objective estimation of quality of life in end-stage renal disease patients treated with renal transplantation].

UNLABELLED: An aim of the study is an estimation of quality of life (QOL) of end-stage renal disease (ESDR) patients after successful kidney transplantation with QOL of healthy Polish population as a trial of objective comparison of QOL in this group of patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A method of diagnostic probing with) use of a questionnaire the WHOQOL-100 in its Polish language version was employed. A number of 400 (in total) questionnaires (200 in each group) were given to randomly chosen ESRD patients treated with kidney transplantation (TX) and healthy persons (K). Fulfilled questionnaires were obtained from 171 (42.75%) individuals who underwent the study: 83 from TX group (41.5%) and 88 from K group (44%).
RESULTS: Regarding sex and marital status, the differences between groups were not significant statistically. As for the age and education, the differences between groups were significant. A difference in amount of 'having a job' patients between groups was significant. Better QOL was stated in K group in the following domains: overall QOL, in physical, psychological and level of independence and facets: pain and discomfort, energy and fatigue, sleep and rest, thinking, learning, memory and concentration, self-esteem, negative feelings, mobility, activities of daily living, dependence on medication or treatments, working capacity, sexual activity, physical safety and security, opportunities for acquiring new information and skills and transport. Higher scores were stated in K group in all of those facets excluding pain and discomfort., negative feelings and dependence on medication or treatments.
CONCLUSIONS: 1) In some aspects, QOL of TX patients does not differ from QOL of healthy individuals (it refers to domains: social relationships, environment, spirituality/religion/personal beliefs and also to facets: positive feelings, personal relationships, social support, home environment, financial resources, health and social care: availability and quality, participation in and opportunities for recreation and leisure, physical environment, spirituality). 2) In some facets (self-esteem, negative feelings, sexual activity, physical safety and security), TX patients' QOL is hardly worse than healthy persons' QOL in comparison to the rest of the aspects of life where the difference is enormous. 3) Of demographic factors, age, education and working have the highest influence on QOL (it refers to TX patients only). 4) The results point out the WHOQOL-100 to be a useful and reliable instrument for measuring quality of life in different populations making possible to compare it objectively.