title: Cross sectional survey on the concerns and anxiety of patients waiting for organ transplants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to gain an understanding of patient concerns while on a transplantation waiting list in areas with long transplant waiting time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised patients with organ failure on the transplant waiting list in Hong Kong. They were invited to complete a questionnaire survey. Demographic data and waiting time were collected. Respondents rated their chance of getting transplanted, their subjective concerns and feelings, level of happiness and support received.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 442 patients on the waiting list for kidney, liver, lung and heart-lung transplants completed the questionnaire survey. The majority of patients (93.0%) were waiting for kidney transplantation. More than half of the respondents (63.3%) had been waiting for more than 3 years. Patients with longer transplant waiting times had lower self-estimated chance of receiving a transplant (P = 0.004). Self-estimated chance of getting transplanted was positively associated with the happiness score (P < 0.0001). Issues of most concerns to the patients waiting for organ transplants were: inconvenience of therapy (48.2%), disease progression (47.9%), burden to family (59.5%) and financial difficulties (52.3%). More female patients on the waiting list (50.0% vs 25.7% in male) reported concerns about suffering associated with the illnesses. 21.7% of patients considered the level of support received inadequate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our patients had long waiting time for transplantation, which is associated with a lower perceived chance of getting a transplant. Attention to more psychosocial support to these patients waiting for organ transplant is important. Promoting and improving organ donation would be the ultimate way to help these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. philipli@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Philip Kam-Tao
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kwok Hong
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Kai Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Miu Fong
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Chi Bon
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Bonnie Ching Ha
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Yuen Fan
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.forename: Cheuk Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Szeto
authors.forename: Maggie Miu Man
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult