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Related Experiment Videos

Waiting for a liver transplant.

Jill Brown1, James H Sorrell, Jason McClaren

  • 1University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.

Qualitative Health Research
|December 1, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Patients awaiting liver transplants experience profound uncertainty, encompassing emotional shifts, trust in medical teams, and a redefinition of time. This qualitative study illuminates the patient journey during the critical transplant waiting period.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Sociology
  • Transplantation Medicine
  • Qualitative Health Research

Background:

  • The waiting period for liver transplantation is characterized by significant uncertainty, morbidity, and mortality.
  • Understanding the patient's lived experience during this critical phase is essential for improving care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the meaning of the liver transplant waiting experience from the patient's perspective.
  • To identify core themes that define the patient's journey while awaiting a transplant.

Main Methods:

  • Phenomenological inquiry guided the study.
  • Nine in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals experiencing liver failure and awaiting transplantation.
  • Analysis involved identifying significant statements and meaning units to derive core themes.

Main Results:

  • Eight core themes emerged: transformations, doctors/teams/trust, elation to despair, loss, questioning the process, searching, coping, and the paradox of time.
  • The waiting experience involves profound emotional and psychological shifts.
  • Patients grapple with uncertainty, trust in healthcare providers, and the subjective experience of time.

Conclusions:

  • The essence of the waiting experience is understood as a disruption of the biographical narrative, consistent with theories of chronic illness.
  • Findings highlight critical implications for liver transplant teams and healthcare providers in supporting patients during this challenging period.
  • Enhanced patient support and communication are crucial for navigating the complexities of the transplant waiting list.

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