Liver transplantation has become an accepted treatment for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure. Eighty-seven percent of patients undergoing liver transplant are expected to survive the first year and eighty percent at the third year after transplant. The improvement in outcomes after transplant is a result of improvement in surgical techniques and medical therapy. The patient is responsible for the following aspects of their post-transplant care; compliance with medications, regular laboratory tests and clinic visits, diet, physical rehabilitation program and maintaining social relationships. As patients are expected to live longer after liver transplant, the quality of life and functional status of liver transplant recipients have become important issues to be evaluated.

Health related quality of life concerns the patient's overall physical and psycho-social well-being. Social scientists have developed tools which consist of questionnaires, to measure six parameters; physical health, psychological health, social functioning, sexual functioning, ability to perform daily activities and sense of general well-being.

Most studies have shown that the overall quality of life of transplant recipients improves markedly after transplant in all six areas, with the most significant improvement in physical health. Interestingly, smaller improvement is seen in psychological health.

Less than one third of patients are employed at the time of liver transplantation, most of who had stopped at least one year prior to transplant. About one half of the recipients will return to work after transplant, generally within six months. Patients younger than the age of 50 years and who were employed within one year prior to transplant are more likely to have returned to work. These data should be interpreted with caution because many of these surveys do not specify part-time work from home-making etc.

The USC Liver Transplant Program is currently conducting a research study to determine the employment status of our liver transplant recipients who received a liver transplant more than one year ago. We have mailed out a two part questionnaire; the first part consist of a Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF-12) with twelve questions regarding the quality of life of the respondent, the second part consists of a series of questions concerning the education, insurance and work history. The responses cannot be linked to the identity of the respondents. We will be analyzing the data as a group not on an individual basis. This information is important for our program to design the post-transplant programs to maximize our patients' quality of life. If you have not returned the survey please do so. If you have not received the survey please contact Jennifer Moser, R.N. or Tse-Ling Fong, M.D.