Health-related quality of life of pediatric renal transplant recipientsand their parents: the role of associated factors and clinical counseling.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study evaluates the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pediatric renal transplant recipients and their parents and investigates the effects of clinical, socioeconomic, and psychological factors as well as continuous counseling on the HRQoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients aged 8-17 years (mean: 14.9 ± 2.9) were enrolled. Clinical and demographic data were noted. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Turkish version of the Kinder Lebensqualität Fragebogen (KINDL) questionnaire for children and the BDI, RSES, parent-proxy version of KINDL, and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) for parents were applied (step 1). Following a 1-year counseling program, the tests were repeated (step 2). RESULTS Child-self and parent-proxy KINDL scores were optimal with no difference between periods (for child-self and parent-proxy scores, P > 0.05). Parent SF-36 scores indicated optimal results. Parent RSES scores decreased in step 2 (P < 0.05). The BDI scores were higher in parents than children in both periods (P < 0.05 for step 1 and P < 0.01 for step 2). Higher creatinine levels, lower monthly income, and urological comorbidities modified the HRQoL negatively in step 1. CONCLUSION Continuous education with psychosocial counseling carries importance in improving HRQoL in the posttransplant period.