Informational needs of liver transplant recipients during a two-year posttransplant period.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the informational needs of liver transplant (LTx) recipients, examine potential differences in informational needs by sociodemographic and clinical variables, and examine informational needs at various time points posttransplant.


METHODS
A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. Informational needs were assessed by the Informational Needs Questionnaire-liver, a new questionnaire developed to include LTx recipients' perspectives. To examine informational needs at different posttransplant time points, participants were classified into four groups (0-1, 2-4, 5-9, and 10-24 months).


RESULTS
Participants (159) who were married, single, had higher education, or higher monthly incomes had significantly greater informational needs. Informational needs regarding disease and physical and emotional management remained high after transplant. Four subscales (medication, wound management, diet, and daily and social activities) indicated informational needs were different across time. Participants 2-4 months posttransplant had higher informational needs regarding wound management and daily and social activities. Participants 5-9 months posttransplant had the highest informational needs regarding medication and diet.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate informational needs vary among LTx recipients at different posttransplant time points. Marital status, education, and monthly income can influence informational needs.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare providers should tailor information given to LTx recipients based on informational needs. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm changing patterns of informational needs.
School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA dko4@wisc.edu.
Dami
D
Ko
College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.
Insook
I
Lee
School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, USA.
Rebecca J
RJ
Muehrer
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
Liver transplant; informational needs; recipients; self-management; transplant