Browsing by Author "Bah, Fatoumata"

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    Determining Language Needs of English as a Second Language Medical Students
    (2021-09-18) Bah, Fatoumata; Shin, Sun-Young; Yu, Corinna
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    Impact of medical, health related, social and occupational factors on post-liver transplant recovery: a longitudinal study
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2012-04-13) Scott, Patricia J.; Winslow, Emily; Krause, Audrey; Bah, Fatoumata
    Purpose: Organ transplantation is a serious surgery with nearly 10% of patients failing to survive the first three months. Studies of quality of life reflect an increase post-transplant, as compared to pre-transplant, then reports vary including a trend towards decreasing QOL scores by the end of the first transplanted year. In this first year, patients have an increased risk of re-hospitalization due to infection, failure of the body to accept the graft, problems with anti-rejection medications or post- surgical complications. Methods: A longitudinal study of liver transplant recipients (n=23) followed medical, social, and occupational factors, along with SF-36 measures. Results: Variability in QOL scores at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months were directly related to identifiable factors. In those subjects where health returned in an uncomplicated manner, QOL scores consistently improved with the greatest change occurring over the first six months and then tapering off through the end of the first year. Conclusions: These subjects almost uniformly expressed frustration at the length of time it took to return to a healthy state. In circumstances where recovery was delayed due to medical reasons, QOL scores declined significantly until the problems were resolved. In several cases, QOL scores stayed low as these individuals were unprepared for the potential complications associated with this difficult surgery.
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    A longitudinal analysis of the impact of fatigue on return to activities of daily living during the first year after liver transplantation
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2012-04-13) Bah, Fatoumata; Winslow, Emily; Scott, Patricia J.
    Liver transplantation is often thought of as organ recovery and lifesaving surgery. The reality is a prolonged and stressful time for the patient and their family (Scott & Brown, 2011). The persistence of fatigue after liver transplantation is well documented in the research literature (Aadahl, Hansen, Kirkegaard, & Groenvold, 2002; van den Berg-Emons et al., 2006; Van Ginneken et al., 2010). However, there is no evidence as to the timing of how this fatigue dissipates during the early transplanted period and its impact on quality of life. Furthermore, studies on changes in fatigue do not start until 6 months after transplant, leaving a gap in knowledge of the patient’s experience post-surgery up to this point. This ongoing longitudinal study is aimed at better understanding the recovery process. Patients from a Midwest medical center (N=21) were followed post-discharge, at weeks 1-8 and at months 3, 6, 9, and 12. The FACIT-Fatigue Scale (Cella, 1997) indicates a decrease in fatigue scores (less fatigue) in those subjects without adverse events. Adverse events including re-hospitalization, surgical complications and organ rejection were associated with higher FACIT scores (higher level of fatigue) and less resolution over this first year. Through this research Dr. Scott and her team hope to translate their findings into educational resources for patients and their families to understand what to anticipate during the post-transplant recovery period.