Participation in valued roles post-liver transplant

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the participation patterns of liver transplant (LT) recipients in valued roles following LT and the relationship of these to quality of life. Design: This was a cross-sectional study of health-related quality of life and role participation in 161 LT recipients, conducted between 27 August 2008 and 1 December 2008. The participants were a mean of 5.25, +/- 2.5, years post-LT, 75% male, and had a mean age of 59 years, range 37-77 years. Main outcome measures: These were the Role Checklist and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - Quality of Life instrument. Results: Analysis revealed that LT recipients showed a wide disparity in the number of roles currently occupied, range 1-10, mean = 4.9 and SD = 1.8, and normal distribution. There was a significant relationship (p < 0.001) between participation in a greater number of valued roles and all five quality of life scales. Conclusion: People who are participating in a smaller number of valued roles have lower levels of life satisfaction. The problem is believed to be related to difficulties in forming new habits. Habit training and monitoring of role return to determine when intervention is needed are required to enable all LT recipients to return to the highest quality of life possible.