title: The effects of information and support on individuals awaiting cadaveric kidney transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No empirical studies exist to direct nursing interventions for individuals during the long period of waiting for a transplant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To measure the effect of information and support on hope and uncertainty for individuals awaiting cadaveric kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-affiliated hospital in the Midwest from 1997 to 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty participants awaiting cadaveric kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The control group received no intervention phone calls or mailings, which was the current standard of care. The treatment group received phone calls and mailings once every month for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hope, measured by the Herth Hope Index, and uncertainty, measured by the Mishel's Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults, were evaluated at the beginning of the study and 6 months later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant effect of the nursing intervention was found on hope and uncertainty in this sample (F = 0.5322, P = .81). Hope was found to be negatively related to uncertainty both before (r = -0.53, P = .0001) and after (r = -0.59, P = .0001) intervention. No significant change was found between hope before and after intervention, and uncertainty before and after intervention in the treatment group (F = 1.10, P = .40) or the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The individuals indicated that definite needs were met by the information and support intervention even though the results did not statistically support the effect of the nursing intervention.
authors.affiliation: MU Sinclair School of Nursing, Columbia, Mo., USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors