Quality of life of patients after lung transplantation

The study is the first tentative nursing probe into the quality of life of Czech patients after lung transplantation. The main objective of the study is to determine the quality of life in adult patients after lung transplantation in the Czech Republic and point out ways in which nursing can contribute to improving the quality of life of these patients.The study used a combination of two standardized questionnaires: the SF-36, which examines eight dimensions of the quality of life, and the EQ-5D-5L, which examines six dimensions of the quality of life. In total, the sample of respondents comprised of 61 patients, representing 67.80% of the total population of living adult patients who had ever undergone lung transplantation in the Czech Republic. The results of the study correspond to published information on the progress of the quality of life in patients after lung transplantation, namely: after lung transplantation, the quality of life is significantly improved (peak improvement occurs in the period between the 13th and 36th month); however, over time, it deteriorates again. In our study, deterioration in overall health was recorded as an increasing trend from about the fourth year after transplantation. According to the SF-36 and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires, the studied sample of lung transplant patients exhibited the most significant variations in the quality of life, compared with the general population, in the following areas: social functioning, bodily pain, physical limitations – mobility, and emotional problems such as anxiety or depression. Based on the results, a new methodology is proposed to nurse-specialists concerning continuous long-term support work with lung transplant patients, which could be effective and could bring relief to patients in areas they assess as difficult to manage.