Title: Perceptions Related to Lung Transplant Recipients’ Health Quality of Life

Biography:

Sarah E Albright, M.A. is Clinical Health Psychology Doctoral Student at Alliant International University, California, USA. Her research interests include transplantation and lung transplantation. She has also attended many conferences.

Abstract

Introduction: 
Lung transplantation has become a frequent medical procedure to treat end-stage congenital and acquired respiratory diseases [1]. This extensive aciurgy can prolong longevity of life and improve quality of life but can also lead to a variety of complications and alter the life of the recipient forever. In addition to the profound physical changes the procedure causes in the body [2], transplantation results in surgery-related psychological impacts, medication side effects, and lifestyle changes [3]. Lung transplant recipients who disclose their medical information experience a wide variety of responses. Interactions with family, friends, healthcare workers, and even strangers are impacted by the ideas, concepts, biases, and post-surgery and recovery expectations of recipients. The way in which these perceptions may affect recipients varies depending on the negative or positive tone of them, the context they are given and, most importantly, how the recipient believes society or others perceive them [4], [5]. There is limited research on recipients’ psychological functioning, specifically health-related quality of life (HRQOL), regarding self- perception and how one believes others perceive them, known as metaperception [4]. How, if at all, do self-perception and metaperception influence patients’ health-related quality of life, and what role do factors like resiliency and autonomy play in determining HRQOL outcomes?  
Treatment:
To measure these psychological factors, participants who are involved in lung transplant support groups will be recruited from a variety of social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Reddit). Subjects will first fill out a 9-item demographic questionnaire regarding age, gender, ethnicity, employment status, and lung transplant information. This questionnaire will take about 2-5 minutes to complete.
Participants will then self-report measures of resiliency, utilizing the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ) [5]; autonomy, utilizing the Maastricht Personal Autonomy Questionnaire [6]; and self-esteem, utilizing Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale [7], via Qualtrics online. A multiple linear regression will be run to determine significant factors that will predict HRQOL in lung transplant recipients. Data collection will start following IRB approval. 
Conclusions:
Providers, specifically health psychologists, should be aware of and acknowledge the complex factors patients face after transplantation. The procedure is lifelong commitment that carries profound adjustments in a patient’s lifestyle. A deeper understanding of how psychological factors influence transplant patient well-being will aid mental health care providers in addressing the unique needs of transplant recipients and working towards better post-operative psychological health outcomes. Future research will aim to understand how these psychological constructs affect future transplant patients.