title: Somebody else's heart inside me: a descriptive study of psychological problems after a heart transplantation.
abstract: This study describes the psychological problems of heart transplant recipients. Using a qualitative research approach, interviews were conducted with 42 patients(35 men and 7 women). Analysis of the data revealed concerns about the donor's heart and how receiving somebody else's heart might affect the recipient's own personality; feelings of guilt for the donor's death and feelings of gratitude towards the donor's family; and concerns about the recipient's own heart. These findings provide health care professionals with pointers that may aid improved information provision and maximise the use of existing coping strategies.
authors: General Hospital of Volos, Greece. evridiki_kaba@yahoo.com
authors: Evridiki
authors: E
authors: Kaba
authors: David R
authors: DR
authors: Thompson
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Burnard
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Edwards
authors: Eleni
authors: E
authors: Theodosopoulou
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D006167:Guilt; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010551:Personality; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012606:Scotland; D012649:Self Concept; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires