Leisure time physical activity and health-related behaviours after liver transplantation: a prospective, single-centre study

Health Locus of Control and Health Behaviors in Organ Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Study

BACKGROUND

Adherence to health behaviors and to immunosuppressant medications are variables among heart transplant recipients with potential life-threatening outcomes. It is understood that patients with psychosocial barriers are at increased risk of poor outcomes due to various factors. Health locus of control includes any activity that can be done to prevent health problems. Health locus of control is defined as individual beliefs based on past experiences in health issues and having internal and or external control. The literature suggests that patients with a strong internal locus of control have a sense of responsibility for their health behaviors.

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of the health locus of control on the level of self-reported health behaviors among organ transplant recipients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional design was used for this study. The study group comprises 222 individuals after heart, kidney, lung, and liver transplantation. The following standardized tools were used: The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, The Health Behavior Inventory, Morisky Medication-Taking Adherence Scale 4-item. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS. The level of significance for the statistical test was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

Powerful Others scored the highest among the 3 Health Locus of Control scales in heart, kidney, and liver recipients. Participants paid little attention to Healthy eating habits; however, the total score of the Health Behavior Inventory was high (91.68-94.40). There was a difference between the kind of transplant and center for 4 aspects of health behavior. Higher scores of The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control were associated with higher scores of Health Behaviors and level of adherence. Greater Powerful Others and Internal Health Locus of control predict higher health behaviors explaining 42 % of the variance.

CONCLUSIONS

The intensification of declared health behaviors is high. However, in educating posttransplant patients, attention should be paid to strengthening proper healthy eating habits. Associations between health locus of control dimensions and health behavior have been shown among transplant recipients. The health locus of control significantly predicts the intensity of health behaviors. these findings support the need to consider health control beliefs while designing preventive strategies in this group of patients.

Involvement in Health Behavior After Heart Transplantation: The Role of Personal Resources and Health Status. Single-Center Observational Study

Introduction: Heart transplantation affects all spheres of the patients’ functioning - their physical well-being and coping with everyday situations, as well as their identity and social functioning. Its long-term effects depend on the effective cooperation with the transplant team. Post-transplant patients are expected to be committed to adherence to recommendations. Patients’ subjective characteristics could increase the risk of difficulties during treatment or might have a protective effect. The major aim of the study was to evaluate the level of engagement in health behavior in heart transplant recipients in relation to their personal resources, such as personality traits, and their health status.

Material and Method: The observational ex post facto model was proposed. Participants completed a set of psychological questionnaires. In the study, there were used questionnaires regarding health behavior (HBI), personality traits (NEO-FFI), health locus of control (MHLC), self-efficacy (GSES) and health status (GHQ-28). The group included in the analyses consisted of 107 heart transplant patients. They ranged in age from 19 to 75 years; 10.3% of them were women.

Results: According to norms, 71% patients reported high level of engagement in health behavior. There were significant differences in the level of dietary habits and other types of health behaviors. The best predictors of overall health behavior were conscientiousness (β = 0.20, p < 0.05) and health locus of control (Powerful Others) (β = 0.25, p < 0.05). The prophylaxis behavior was related significantly to the level of conscientiousness (p < 0.05) and health locus of control (Internal and Powerful Others) (p < 0.05; p < 0.01). The level of positive mental attitude was related significantly to agreeableness (p < 0.05), health locus of control (Powerful Others) (p < 0.01), and self-efficacy (p < 0.01). Everyday healthy practices were related significantly to openness to experience (p < 0.01) and health locus of control (all categories: Internal, Powerful Others and Chance) (p < 0.05; p < 0.01; p < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: Majority of heart transplant patients is engaged in high level of health behavior. Among the various forms of health-relevant habits, heart transplant patients adhere significantly less frequently to a healthy diet. Among examined resources, the best predictors of caring about health are generalized self-efficacy and age at the time of HTx.

Physical Activity and Quality of Life of University Students, Their Parents, and Grandparents in Poland-Selected Determinants

Physical activity is one of the factors conditioning human health. Research shows a positive impact of regular physical activity on the quality of human life. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the physical activity of university students, their parents, and their grandparents, and the overall quality of their lives in individual domains (physical, mental, social, environmental), as well as the perceived state of health in relation to selected determinants. The research included 1001 participants, including 253 students related to physical culture and health promotion studying at the University of Szczecin (faculties: physical education, tourism and recreation, public health, sports diagnostics), and their 336 parents and 412 grandparents. Purposive sampling was used to outline the determinants of quality of life and family factors in physical activity. The diagnostic survey was carried out based on the standardized WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization Quality of Life) questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were shown in the studied generations regarding the assessment of quality of life and satisfaction with health in the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains. The oldest generation gave the lowest assessment of quality of life and was the least satisfied with their health regarding particular domains. Female students were more satisfied with their health compared to grandmothers and grandfathers, whereas male students compared to mothers and fathers. Fathers achieved the highest scores in the psychological and social domains, but, in case of the latter, differences were found between mothers’ and fathers’ assessments. Intergenerational differences were found in quality of life and the assessment of health status. Current participation in broadly understood physical culture was often a result of positive attitudes towards physical education and doing sport in the past, which meant higher scores in the physical domain each time. The study demonstrated that taking up physical activity impacted the quality of life and assessment of health in the past and currently.