Psycho-social outcome in liver transplanted children: beware of emotional self-assessment!

• Main Authors: Calinescu Ana, McLin Valérie A, Belli Dominque, Wildhaber Barbara E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-08-01
• Series: Italian Journal of Pediatrics
• Subjects: Psycho-social outcome; Pediatric liver transplantation; Quality of life
• Online Access: http://www.ijponline.net/content/38/1/37

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Psycho-social outcome in children after liver transplantation (LT) is known to be inferior to age-related peers. Yet, when children and their parents are questioned by their nurse or physician about the child’s psycho-social well-being, the answers usually are very positive. We hypothesized that patients and their parents after LT report their psycho-social well-being too enthusiastically when enquired by their personal care takers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Inclusion criteria: LT at the Children’s University Hospital of Geneva 1992–2007, age >3 years, <16 years, time after LT >2 years. Children and their parents were questioned by their well-known, familiar nurse at the annual follow up visit about their personal well-being. To allow for evaluation of answers, scores (good, medium, bad) were attributed to the different questions. 46 children were included in the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age at enquiry was 9.7 years (SD 4 years), mean time after LT was 7.5 years (SD 4.2 years). The different themes were reported as good for: parent–child relationship (83%), relationship with peers (98%), relation with siblings (39%), sport activities (54%), play activities (78%), school performance (87%), expression skills (67%), and general behavior (89%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most of our LT children and their parents consider, during a personal interview with a closely related, familiar nurse, that the child’s psycho-social outcome is good. Yet, it is generally acknowledged that children after LT have negatively altered psycho-social outcomes. Thus, emotionally influenced reports about psycho-social outcome in children after LT must be looked at with care.</p>