The needs and expectations of overseas liver transplant recipients' families in Taiwan: across different transplantation stages.
OBJECTIVE
This study explored the needs and expectations of Taiwanese overseas liver transplant recipients' families (OLTRFs) across three liver transplantation stages.


METHODS
An exploratory qualitative method was applied to a purposive sample of OLTRFs who received guided face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Data were subjected to content analysis.


RESULTS
Nineteen OLTRF members (15 females, 4 males) aged between 29 and 71 years (mean, 55.1 years) for 19 patients who had end-stage liver diseases were interviewed regarding overseas liver transplantation (OLT) across three stages: pre-departure (first stage), stay in mainland China (second stage), and re-entry into Taiwan (third stage). Five types of needs across OLT stages were reported: (a) knowing precise operation schedule in advance (first to second stages); (b) sharing the caring burdens (second to third stages); (c) knowing the updated health status if possible (all stages); (d) obtaining timely psychological support (all stages); and (e) effective communications between health professionals in Taiwan and mainland China to ensure the caring quality (all stages). Furthermore, five expectations were reported: (a) more donor sources (first stage); (b) comprehensive caring strategies for OLT (first stage); (c) a comprehensive consultation system and timely assistance channels for OLT recipients and their families (second to third stages); (d) a legal and accessible therapy process (all stages); and (e) the cooperation with foreign countries and allowed experience sharing for better quality of patient care (all stages).


CONCLUSIONS
Most ethnic Chinese believe that family is an integrated system; moreover, there is close attachment between OLT recipients and their families. The needs and expectations of the recipients' family across three transplantation stages were first reported in this project. With this knowledge, the health providers of related countries are empowered by a better understanding of the family's needs and expectations of these OLT recipients at different stages.
Department of Nursing, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
H-M
HM
Chen
Departments of Information Management and Gerontological Care and Management, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
F-Jong
FJ
Shih
Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Y-J
YJ
Pan
Institute of Clinical and Community Health Nursing, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Ditmanson Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chayi, Taiwan. Electronic address: ppaul456tw@yahoo.com.tw.
F J
FJ
Shih
Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: rhhu@ntu.edu.tw.
S-S
SS
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D057193:Medical Tourism; D008875:Middle Aged; D012944:Social Support; D013624:Taiwan