|
1
|
Tang J, Kerklaan J, Wong G, Howell M, Scholes-Robertson N, Guha C, Kelly A, Tong A. Perspectives of solid organ transplant recipients on medicine-taking: Systematic review of qualitative studies. Am J Transplant 2021; 21:3369-3387. [PMID: 33866675 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Medicine-taking among transplant recipients is a complex and ubiquitous task with significant impacts on outcomes. This study aimed to describe the perspectives and experiences of medicine-taking in adult solid organ transplant recipients. Electronic databases were searched to July 2020, and thematic synthesis was used to analyze the data. From 119 studies (n = 2901), we identified six themes: threats to identity and ambitions (impaired self-image, restricting goals and roles, loss of financial independence); navigating through uncertainty and distrust (lacking tangible/perceptible benefits, unprepared for side effects, isolation in decision-making); alleviating treatment burdens (establishing and mastering routines, counteracting side effects, preparing for the unexpected); gaining and seeking confidence (clarity with knowledge, reassurance through collective experiences, focusing on the future outlook); recalibrating to a new normal posttransplant (adjusting to ongoing dependence on medications, in both states of illness and health, unfulfilled expectations); and preserving graft survival (maintaining the ability to participate in life, avoiding rejection, enacting a social responsibility of giving back). Transplant recipients take medications to preserve graft function, but dependence on medications jeopardizes their sense of normality. Interventions supporting the adaptation to medicine-taking and addressing treatment burdens may improve patient satisfaction and capacities to take medications for improved outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James Tang
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Jasmijn Kerklaan
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Academic Medical Center, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Germaine Wong
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Martin Howell
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicole Scholes-Robertson
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Chandana Guha
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Ayano Kelly
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Allison Tong
- Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
Abstract
More than 75,000 deceased donor liver transplants have been performed in the United States since 1984, thus giving many people another chance at life. Liver transplantation is often scrutinized because of its high cost and limited resources (i.e., organs). Measuring recipient's quality of life posttransplant is one outcome to determine whether liver transplantation is making a difference. Limited information is available from a longitudinal perspective that studies the same recipient over time. The purpose of this study was to describe liver transplant recipients' quality of life pretransplant and 1 and 2 years posttransplant. Patients completed the Quality of Life form at initial evaluation for liver transplant at 1 and 2 years posttransplant. Data from 139 recipients were extracted from a database maintained by a large transplant center in the southwest United States. Repeated-measures analysis of variance showed a statistically significant difference in quality of life at 1 and 2 years posttransplant as compared with quality-of-life scores pretransplant. The major finding was a statistically significant difference in quality of life between men and women, with men reporting higher overall quality-of-life scores. Liver transplantation does make a difference in improving quality of life. Further investigation is suggested to explore the difference of quality of life between genders.
Collapse
|