Patients' experiences in hospital following a liver transplantation.
Dagfinn Nåden, Ida Torunn Bjørk
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences March 2012 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-6712.2011.00911.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 15 |
| Population | Liver transplant patients interviewed 3-5 weeks after transplantation while still in hospital |
| Duration | Interviews 3-5 weeks after transplantation |
| Key findings | Patients described "comedowns" experienced during rejection of the transplant, along with what the authors characterize as seemingly little consolation and support received. Patients also described dreams, nightmares and hallucinations, which the authors say have not been fully described from patients' own perspective during hospitalization. Other themes included general contentment with the hospital stay, physical discomfort, and other psychological or mental reactions. |
Abstract
Research is scarce regarding patients' experiences, feelings and thoughts the first 4 weeks after liver transplantation. Most research involving patients with a liver transplant are conducted several months, or even years, after the transplantation. The aim of this study is to present results from research interviews that took place post-transplant while patients still were in hospital. The design is explorative and hermeneutic. Fifteen patients were interviewed 3-5 weeks after transplantation. The results are presented in the following themes: (i) general contentment with the hospital stay, (ii) physical discomfort, (iii) dreams, nightmares and hallucinations, (iv) Comedowns experienced during rejection of the transplant and (v) Other psychological/mental reactions. A major result from our study is patients' own descriptions of comedowns experienced during rejection of the transplant, and the seemingly little consolation and support the patients received. Another major result is patients' own descriptions of dreams, nightmares and hallucinations, which are not fully described from the patients' own perspective while still in hospital.