QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADULTS AFTER A HEART TRANSPLANT.
Contributors: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 114
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Cardiac disease is disabling and costs society immeasurably in money and suffering. In an attempt to alleviate the suffering and expense of end-stage cardiac disease, cardiac transplantation has received considerable attention. This intervention, however, has proven costly because of the surgical procedure and because of the medications, follow-up care, and changes in life style which may be needed. One value of cardiac transplantation is the determination of the quality of life (QOL) of individuals who have received a heart transplant. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to describe the QOL of adults after a heart transplant.

The McMaster Health Index Questionnaire (MHIQ) and the Cantril Self-Anchoring Scale were used to interview the 22 subjects. Analysis of data from the MHIQ revealed a mean physical index score of .94, a mean social index score of .81, and a mean emotional index score of .71. Analysis of data from the Cantril Self-Anchoring Scale revealed that of a possible ten, the mean QOL score before heart transplant was 1.95; QOL at the time of interview was 6.82, and that anticipated five years after transplant was 9.45. Friedman's and Nemenyi's tests revealed statistically significant increases in QOL from one month before transplant to the time of interview and, from the time of interview to the time five years after the transplant.

A correlation matrix was computed to determine if relationships among these variables and selected demographic variables existed. This analysis revealed positive correlations between the mean MHIQ physical and emotional index scores and the mean Cantril scores at the time of interview, and between the mean emotional and social index scores.

Quality of life in this sample was satisfactory, with physical function being the highest of the three index scores. In addition, QOL had improved from the time before transplant to the time of interview and was anticipated to improve from the time of interview to the time five years after transplant.

Recommendations included (a) replication of the study using multiple heart transplant centers, (b) design of counseling or support groups to assist in improving QOL, and (c) comparison of QOL prior to and after the transplant.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-01, Section: B, page: 0091.

Thesis (D.S.N.)--UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM, 1986.

School code: 0005.