The Long Wait: Heart And Lung Transplant Patients' Perceptions Of Care Needs - Podcast

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Article Date: 28 Nov 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Podcast Summary:

Waiting for a suitable organ transplant is a long, unpredictable, isolating and stressful experience. Although there is hope, there is also a great deal of uncertainty.

To discuss her study on how nurses can support patients through the transplant period, Janelle Yorke spoke to Michael Bouwman. Communication by the nurses was found to be most important, including information and regular contact. Noted was that patients wanted nurses to know them and their needs, and tailor information to their needs: to cut through the medical "mumbo jumbo". Familiarity, positive thinking and compassion were also found to be an overwhelming need of patients.

Medical staff need to develop a means of providing frequent, informed, appropriate and compassionate communication with patients awaiting transplant, either through transplant support groups or through innovative information technology usage, including the telephone, Skype or the internet.

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