The "You Are Not Alone" care program for liver transplantation

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Patient Care Management

Background:

• Current clinical practice emphasizes efficacy, appropriateness, efficiency, quality, and safety in patient care.
• Successful transplantation requires experienced staff and active patient/family involvement.
• Meeting patient expectations for quality and safety is crucial for engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an integrated, multidisciplinary care program for liver transplantation (LT) candidates and recipients.
• To enhance patient and family participation in the LT process.
• To improve healthcare professionals' teaching and communication skills for effective patient education.

Main Methods:

• A 5-phase program development: patient needs assessment via questionnaires, creation of educational brochures, consensus meetings with staff, a 6-month counseling course for healthcare professionals, and program implementation.
• Involved waitlisted and engrafted patients, their families, nurses, physicians, surgeons, and anesthesiologists.
• Utilized patient-oriented brochures, consensus meetings, professional counseling, monthly meetings, hospital tours, and a toll-free support line.

Main Results:

• The program,
• Non Sei Solo
• (You Are Not Alone), was developed and implemented.
• Healthcare professionals received training in teaching methodologies and communication skills.
• Patient and family support was enhanced through various program components.

Conclusions:

• An integrated, multidisciplinary care program can effectively address patient needs and expectations in liver transplantation.
• Training healthcare professionals in education and communication is vital for successful patient engagement.
• The
• Non Sei Solo
• program provides a model for comprehensive support in liver transplantation.