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This dissertation, The Health-related Quality of Life of Liver Transplantation Recipients in Hong Kong: a Follow-up and Cross-sectional Study by Ying, Geng, 耿瑩, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: Abstract of thesis entitled The Health-Related Quality of Life of Liver Transplantation Recipients in Hong Kong: A Follow-up and Cross-Sectional Study Submitted by Geng Ying For the Degree of Master of Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong August 2007 Liver transplantation has become an effective medical treatment for end-stage liver disease patients in the world and also in Hong Kong. Reviewing the past 20 years of liver transplantation research, the studies were initially focused on survival rate, posttransplant physical condition, or the recovery of cognitive function of liver transplantation recipients. However, increasingly, the liver transplantation recipients' posttransplant health-related quality of life (HRQL) has also become an area of concern. The driving force of the emphasis on quality of life of patients has been influenced by the increasing acceptance of the biopsychosocial model in understanding health and illness, which emphasizes the connection and reciprocal iinfluences of biomedical, psychological and social factors on the health of human being. While previous studies have reported the overall posttransplant HRQL of liver recipients in other countries, the data collected in Hong Kong are limited. The current study aims to examine (1) the HRQL of liver transplantation recipients who had gone through liver transplantations in Hong Kong in the short- and long-term period after liver transplantation, and (2) to analyze the relevant biopsychosocial factors which may be related to the posttransplant HRQL of liver recipients. Due to unavailability of standardized questionnaire assessing specifically HRQL of liver transplantation recipients, a genetic instrument (SF-12v1) and a specific instrument (condition-specific questionnaires designed by Hong Kong clinical psychologists) were used in this study. The subjects were assessed in a cross-sectional study design as well as a longitudinal study design which were aimed to investigate the changes of HRQL of liver recipients in immediate period after surgery, as well as a longer term outcome and maintenance of the recipients' HRQL. The findings of this study indicate that the survival and quality of life of liver transplantation patients in Hong Kong is satisfactory and that liver transplantation is an effective medical treatment for end-stage liver disease patients to save their lives and to improve their quality of life. The short-term and long-term physical and psychosocial outcomes of most of Hong Kong liver transplantation recipients are satisfactory. iiAlmost all of the physical and psychosocial functions of the liver recipients were normalized within one year, with the majority of functions recovered to normal within 2 to 3 months. The physical condition, mental condition and working ability were significantly improved after liver transplantation compared to the status pretransplant, and the improvement was well maintained over the long-term period. Other functions, such as family relationship, sexual life, friendship, and social activities, were not significantly influenced by liver transplantation. Many liver recipients were noted to give up on previous negative health habits with increased motivation to build a healthier lifestyle after the surgery. The findings

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