BACKGROUND: Studies on patients' societal reintegration following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are scarce. METHODS: Between September 2006 and January 2008, all adults who were alive after 3 years post OLT were included in this prospective cohort study. Validated questionnaires were administered to all candidates with the primary aim of investigating the rate of their social re-integration following OLT and potential barriers they might have encountered. RESULTS: Among 157 eligible patients 110 (70%) participated. Mean participants' age was 57 years (SD 11.4) and 43% were females. Prior to OLT, 75% of patients were married and 6% were divorced. Following OLT there was no significant difference in marital status. Employment rate fell from 72% to 30% post-OLT. Patients who had been employed in either low-skill or advanced-skill jobs were less likely to return to work. After OLT, personal income fell an average of 4,363 Canadian dollars (CAN$) (SD 20,733) (P=0.03) but the majority of recipients (80%) reported high levels of satisfaction for their role in society. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients' satisfaction post-OLT is high, employment status is likely to be negatively affected for individuals who are not self-employed. Strategies to assist recipients in returning to their pre-OLT jobs should be developed to improve patients' economical status and societal ability to recoup resources committed for OLT.
BACKGROUND: Studies on patients' societal reintegration following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are scarce. METHODS: Between September 2006 and January 2008, all adults who were alive after 3 years post OLT were included in this prospective cohort study. Validated questionnaires were administered to all candidates with the primary aim of investigating the rate of their social re-integration following OLT and potential barriers they might have encountered. RESULTS: Among 157 eligible patients 110 (70%) participated. Mean participants' age was 57 years (SD 11.4) and 43% were females. Prior to OLT, 75% of patients were married and 6% were divorced. Following OLT there was no significant difference in marital status. Employment rate fell from 72% to 30% post-OLT. Patients who had been employed in either low-skill or advanced-skill jobs were less likely to return to work. After OLT, personal income fell an average of 4,363 Canadian dollars (CAN$) (SD 20,733) (P=0.03) but the majority of recipients (80%) reported high levels of satisfaction for their role in society. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients' satisfaction post-OLT is high, employment status is likely to be negatively affected for individuals who are not self-employed. Strategies to assist recipients in returning to their pre-OLT jobs should be developed to improve patients' economical status and societal ability to recoup resources committed for OLT.
Entities:
Keywords:
Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT); social reintegration
Authors: Terianne Cowling; Linda W Jennings; Robert M Goldstein; Edmund Q Sanchez; Srinath Chinnakotla; Goran B Klintmalm; Marlon F Levy Journal: Liver Transpl Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 5.799
Authors: Gerald S Lipshutz; Jonathan Hiatt; R Mark Ghobrial; Douglas G Farmer; Monica M Martinez; Hasan Yersiz; Jeffrey Gornbein; Ronald W Busuttil Journal: Arch Surg Date: 2007-08
Authors: J O'Neill; M R Hibbard; M Brown; M Jaffe; M Sliwinski; D Vandergoot; M J Weiss Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 1998-08 Impact factor: 2.710