Relationship between income, work and quality of life of patients submitted to bone marrow transplantation

Although the literature points towards the need to assess the work conditions and the social and familiar support of patients submitted to BMT, few Brazilian data are available about the influence of the socio-economic profile on the quality of life. Results of international studies about the association between these variables and post-BMT re-adaptation are inconclusive. This study aims to identify possible relationships between income, work and quality of life in patients submitted to BMT. The study sample consisted of 62 adult patients, with an average adaptation period of 4.3 years after transplant. To collect data, we used: the Socio-economic Assessment Instrument, Post-TMO Recovery Interview, SF-36 and FACT-BMT. Results showed that 43.5% of the patients had a family income of up to two minimum wages and 46.7% of the patients were absent from work at some time during the follow-up. A significant relationship was observed between income, patient's quality of life, feeling of personal competence and psychological adjustment.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; quality of life; family Income; work