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The transformational experience of liver transplantation
1Department of Nursing Studies, King's College London, England.
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|December 1, 1995
Summary
This study explored liver transplant patient experiences, revealing a five-stage transformation from receiving the organ to reciprocating the gift of life. Understanding this journey aids recovery and care for liver transplant recipients.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Transplantation Surgery
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Liver transplantation is the primary treatment for end-stage chronic liver disease.
- Limited research exists on liver transplant patient recovery, particularly qualitative studies on patient experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore and describe the lived experiences of liver transplantation from the patient's perspective.
- To develop a theoretical framework for the transformational experience of liver transplantation.
Main Methods:
- Grounded theory approach for data collection and analysis.
- In-depth focused interviews with 10 liver transplant patients.
Main Results:
- Identified a five-stage trajectory of transformation in liver transplant recipients.
- Stages include: receiving the transplant, in-hospital improvement, home recovery, regaining well-being, and reciprocating.
Conclusions:
- The patient experience of liver transplantation is a transformative process.
- This framework can inform patient care, support systems, and future research on post-transplant recovery.