Research Awards Recipients

Lay Summary

Living with end-stage organ disease is associated with an accumulation of traumatic medical and surgical events. Despite successful restoration of organ function by transplantation, many children and adolescents go on to develop post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms. Although this mental health condition is associated with long-term impairments in wellbeing, it continues to be overlooked by many transplant clinics. To address this prevalent issue, the objectives of this study are to identify risk factors and patient experiences that may be used to improve early identification and access to treatment of PTS symptoms in pediatric heart, kidney, and liver transplant recipients. First, clinical and demographic variables will be reviewed in the transplant database to develop a screening tool that predicts PTS. Trauma severity will be measured by the Child Trauma Score Questionnaire. Then, interviews with transplant patients and their families will be conducted to understand common experiences that impede or facilitate awareness of PTS, access to resources, and readiness to engage with mental health services. This exploration of patient and caregiver experiences with PTS will enable us to design and implement patient-centered mental health resources. By combining these approaches, we hope to establish a clear pathway for the early identification of transplanted children and their families living with PTS and facilitate their access to mental health services.