Att bli transplanterad — en studie av patientens upplevelse

Abstract

Background: Transplantation is a well established form of treatment for terminal organs failure. Most patients that undergo this treatment havebeen through a period of severe illness and suffering. In the care of the patient the nurse can ease the suffering.The aim of this study was to describe how patients experience organ transplantation.Methods: Nine kidney transplanted and five liver transplanted patients were interviewed concerning their experience of transplantation.Interviews with semi constructed questions were performed at two occasions during the first month post transplanted. The text was then analyzedwith the qualitative content analysis.Results: After text analysis seven categories and two themes emerged. The themes were – physical suffering and physical well-being. Aftertransplantation the recollection of illness was very strong and despite severe disease trust in the health care and in the careers remained high.Conclusions:It is central that nurses are aware of that process – to go from a life threatening illness to an experience of well-being – is slow.If nurses are conscious about this, an opportunity to persist patients trust toward the health care and health careers, is given.