Newsletters and adherence to a weekly home spirometry program after lung transplant

Identifying the Educational Needs of Lung Transplant Recipients with Cystic Fibrosis

Purpose

To elucidate the education needs of patients who have undergone lung transplant for cystic fibrosis while participating in the development of therapeutic education programs in French transplant centers.

Methods

From January 2009 to March 2012, in-depth educational diagnosis interviews were conducted with 42 adult transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis who were being followed up at 7 French transplant centers. Several areas were explored: health status, social and occupational outcomes, knowledge about the disease and treatments, and experience of the disease. The interviews combined open- and closed-ended questions for more systematic exploration of knowledge about the disease and treatments.

Results

After receiving the transplant, the patients' health had improved and their lives were returning to normal. They had acquired much usable knowledge about managing their disease. Educational needs regarding transplant-related complications and management of immunosuppressive drugs were evident. The analysis also demonstrated the need to better inform patients about pregnancy and new social rights and to offer them psychological support in adjusting to their new health status.

Conclusion

Therapeutic education of patients should continue well after transplant to maintain safety knowledge and meet patients' new needs. A comprehensive therapeutic education program for transplant candidates that includes the preparatory, immediate posttransplant, and late posttransplant phases is needed.

Lung Transplant or Bust: Patients' Recommendations for Ideal Lung Transplant Education

Context

Effective lung transplant education helps ensure informed decision making by patients and better transplant outcomes.

Objective

To understand the educational needs and experiences of lung transplant patients.

Design

Mixed-method study employing focus groups and patient surveys.

Setting

Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis, Missouri.

Patients

50 adult lung transplant patients: 23 pretransplant and 27 posttransplant.

Main Outcome Measures

Patients' interest in receiving specific transplant information, the stage in the transplant process during which they wanted to receive the education, and the preferred format for presenting the information.

Results

Patients most wanted information about how to sustain their transplant (72%), when to contact their coordinator immediately (56%), transplant benefits (56%), immunosuppressants (54%), and possible out-of-pocket expenses (52%). Patients also wanted comprehensive information early in the transplant process and a review of a subset of topics immediately before transplant (time between getting the call that a potential donor has been found and getting the transplant). Patients reported that they would use Internet resources (74%) and converse with transplant professionals (68%) and recipients (62%) most often.

Discussion

Lung transplant patients are focused on learning how to get a transplant and ensuring its success afterwards. A comprehensive overview of the evaluation, surgery, and recovery process at evaluation onset with a review of content about medications, pain management, and transplant recovery repeated immediately before surgery is ideal.