Quality of life following bone marrow transplantation

Quality of life (QOL) studies in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) recipients are increasingly regarded as one of the ways to evaluate the outcome of BMT. Recent reports continue to detail acute and late psychosocial problems in BMT recipients. More and more longitudinal studies of QOL and comparisons of QOL outcomes after BMT or alternative nontransplant treatments are appearing in the literature. Several interventions that may promote positive effects on psychosocial adjustment are suggested: attention to patients' coping styles by the healthcare team, encouragement of aerobic exercise, attempts to lessen patients' levels of anxiety, and the presence of at least one staff member identified by the patient as an important source of support over time--all may have positive influences on QOL.