%0 Journal Article
%T Psychosocial outcomes for children receiving a kidney transplant: a 30 year follow-up of patients of the Centre for Paediatric Nephrology, M¨¹nster
%A J. Pr¨¹fe
%A W. Weber
%J Transplantationsmedizin
%D 2010
%I Pabst Science Publishers
%X Aim/Background: The aim of this single-centre study is to assess the social development of children suffering from early onset chronic renal disease into adulthood. A focus is put on their education and professional life as well as on their family life and satisfaction with life. Material/Methods: 57 former patients of the centre for paediatric nephrology in M¨¹nster (Germany) who received a kidney-transplant during childhood and adolescence where asked to complete a postal questionnaire. The survey asked for information on family life, schooling, vocational qualification and employment. Furthermore the participants¡¯ satisfaction with life was assessed by the standardized  Questionnaire on Satisfaction in Life (FLZ)¡±.Results: 50 participants (87,7%) returned a fully completed questionnaire. The average age of participants was 30,7 years (SD: 7,3; range: 20,0-44,2). 38 (76%) of them had a functioning graft. All but 5 participants had a secondary school degree. 42 (84%) participants had completed a professional training or were still in education. At the time of assessment 25 participants (50%) were working. The level of education was lower compared to the general population. 30 participants (60%) lived on their own or with a partner. 5 women had given birth to a total of 6 children; 3 men had become fathers. The mean general and health-related satisfaction with life is not significantly reduced as compared to the age matched general population. However, there were subscores of significant difference showing that participants were dissatisfied with their ¡°partnership/sexuality¡±, their ¡°family life / offspring¡± and their ¡°income¡± as well as with their ¡°physical condition¡± and their ¡°ability to relax¡±.Conclusions: In individual cases social development can be almost unimpaired. However in general there is a widely reported dissatisfaction concerning specific areas of general as well as health-related quality of life. Also the social development in regard to the domestic situation and employment is hindered. This indicates a negative impact of early onset chronic renal disease on the social development. A need for psychosocial support to allow for an improved development into adulthood can be stated.
%K children
%K kidney transplantation
%K chronic renal disease
%K social development
%K quality of life
%K follow-up
%U http://www.transplantation.de/fileadmin/transplantation/txmedizin/txmedizin_2010_2/10_pr%FCfe.pdf