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Development of a disease‐specific questionnaire to measure health‐related quality of life in liver transplant recipients
Author(s) -
Saab Sammy,
Ng Vivian,
Landaverde Carmen,
Lee SungJae,
Comulada W. Scott,
Arevalo Jennifer,
Durazo Francisco,
Han StevenHuy,
Younossi Zobari,
Busuttil Ronald W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
liver transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.814
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1527-6473
pISSN - 1527-6465
DOI - 10.1002/lt.22267
Subject(s) - medicine , worry , liver transplantation , quality of life (healthcare) , disease , liver disease , transplantation , physical therapy , intensive care medicine , nursing , psychiatry , anxiety
Currently, no disease‐targeted instrument is available for measuring health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in liver transplant recipients. We developed and tested a post–liver transplant quality of life (pLTQ) instrument. Item selection for the pLTQ instrument was based on responses from liver transplant recipients, 12 liver experts, and a literature search. Impact scores were generated, and a factor analysis was conducted to organize the items into domains. Questions were constructed for each item, and redundant questions were removed. The pLTQ instrument was initially administered to 196 liver transplant patients and then was again administered to 77 patients 6 to 9 months later with a generic HRQOL survey [Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF‐36)]. Analysis of variance was used to compare the scores of patients at different times since transplantation and with various indications for transplantation. After redundancies were eliminated, the pLTQ instrument included 32 items in 8 domains: Emotional Function, Worry, Medications, Physical Function, Healthcare, Graft Rejection Concern, Financial, and Pain. We found stable pLTQ instrument and SF‐36 instrument scores over time. Data 6 to 9 months after the initial assessment indicated stable quality of life outcomes. The pLTQ instrument is applicable to a variety of liver transplant recipients. The questionnaire was tested with a cross‐sectional and longitudinal approach. Liver Transpl 17:567‐579, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.