Rehabilitation and social and adaptive development of young renal transplant recipients

To survey a group (n = 37) of children and adolescents, who had received renal transplants, along with a parent, to determine their rehabilitation status and social and adaptive development. Additionally, subjects were asked to identify factors perceived as interfering with development and rehabilitation.

This primarily descriptive study used a comparative data analysis strategy. There was also an exploratory component to the study.

Potential subjects included all children more than 5 and less than 21 years of age who had received at least one renal transplant at a large university medical center in the Midwest. Subjects' actual ages were 5 to 20 (mean = 13.1); 14 were female, 23 were male. Twenty-five had a functioning transplant at the time of the study.

Telephone interviews were conducted with the child and a parent. The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Subscales for communication, daily living skills and socialization were administered.

The mean communication score was 86.5 (19th percentile), mean daily living skills score was 88.1 (21st percentile), and the mean socialization score was 89.0 (23rd percentile). There was no significant difference on any domain score by whether or not the child had a functional transplant at the time of the study. Factors reported by child and parent as interfering with age-appropriate activities were explored.

Nurses working with children and adolescents who have received renal transplants have many opportunities to incorporate developmental assessments and interventions into their nursing care to help these children to lead fuller and more satisfying lives.