Somebody else's heart inside me: a descriptive study of psychological problems after a heart transplantation.
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.
Kaba
Evridiki
E
General Hospital of Volos, Greece. evridiki_kaba@yahoo.com
Thompson
David R
DR
Burnard
Philip
P
Edwards
Deborah
D
Theodosopoulou
Eleni
E
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