Perceptions of the needs of hospitalized patients undergoing bone marrow transplant

The purpose of this study was to determine patients' (N = 30) needs during the first 4 weeks after bone marrow transplant. These needs were identified during interviews using constant comparative analysis. The first week focused on a team effort toward cure; the second week emphasized symptom management; the third week stressed the work of getting better; and by the fourth week, there was concern about recovery and going home. Patients identified themselves, along with nurses, family, and physicians, as being responsible for meeting these needs. They viewed nurses as being responsible for carrying out the medical orders, managing symptoms, and keeping things in order. Patients wanted their family to be supportive emotionally and attend to their nonmedical needs and physicians to be responsible for the planning and monitoring of their medical care and to verify that satisfactory progress was occurring. For themselves, patients needed to maintain a positive attitude and be involved in their recovery.