Determinants of health-related quality of life in liver transplant candidates

Abstract

Background: This study examined the impact mood, disease severity, and satisfaction with medical care have on liver transplant candidates’ HRQOL and whether dispositional optimism, specific coping styles, or perceived social support mitigate those effects. Methods: Sixty participants completed the Liver Disease Quality of Life Instrument 1.0, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Life Orientation Test-Revised, MOS Social Support Survey, Brief Resilient Scale, and Ways of Coping Checklist. Partial correlations and stepwise regression analyses were conducted. Findings: HRQOL was not impacted by time listed or disease severity. Depression was associated with decreased HRQOL. Anxiety was associated with decreased psychosocial HRQOL. Satisfaction with medical care was associated with increased physical HRQOL. Proactive coping, optimism, and social support were negatively associated with mood. Resilient coping attitude was a predictor of increased physical HRQOL. Avoidant coping was a predictor of decreased psychosocial HRQOL. Depression was a predictor of decreased overall HRQOL. These findings were statistically significant, p<0.01. Discussion: Results encourage the development of psychological interventions that boost proactive coping strategies and foster of resilient and optimistic outlooks on health.