Patient Perspectives on Weight Management and Wellness After Liver Transplantation: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Transplant medicine
• Obesity management
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Obesity and metabolic syndrome are prevalent in liver transplant recipients, negatively impacting health outcomes.
• Effective post-transplant weight loss strategies are crucial for long-term graft and patient survival.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify perceived patient barriers and needs for weight loss after liver transplantation.
• To understand patient motivations and concerns regarding weight management interventions.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed methods approach utilizing cross-sectional surveys and focus groups.
• Survey data analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
• Focus group data analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Majority of liver transplant recipients perceive obesity as detrimental to their graft.
• Common weight loss attempts include diet and exercise, though fatigue and immunosuppression pose challenges.
• Significant patient concerns exist regarding potential liver damage and side effects from weight-loss medications and surgery.

Conclusions:

• Liver transplant recipients are motivated to lose weight to protect their transplanted organ.
• Patient concerns about intervention safety (medication/surgery) and transplant-specific challenges must be addressed for effective weight management.