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Recovery, symptoms, and well-being one to five years after lung transplantation – A multi-centre study

Lundmark, Martina LU ; Lennerling, Annette ; Almgren, Matilda LU and Forsberg, Anna LU (2019) In Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 33(1). p.176-184
Abstract
BACKGROUND:

In recent years, survival after lung transplantation has remained largely unchanged despite improvements in short-and intermediate-term survival, indicating the need to identify factors associated with recovery and long-term survival. Very little is known about how lung recipients recover after lung transplantation and whether such factors are related to symptom distress and well-being. This constitutes the rationale of the study.
AIM:

The aim was to explore symptom prevalence and distress as well as the degree of self-reported perceived recovery and well-being 1-5 years after adult lung transplantation.
METHOD:

This multicentre, cross-sectional nationwide study includes 117 lung recipients... (More)
BACKGROUND:

In recent years, survival after lung transplantation has remained largely unchanged despite improvements in short-and intermediate-term survival, indicating the need to identify factors associated with recovery and long-term survival. Very little is known about how lung recipients recover after lung transplantation and whether such factors are related to symptom distress and well-being. This constitutes the rationale of the study.
AIM:

The aim was to explore symptom prevalence and distress as well as the degree of self-reported perceived recovery and well-being 1-5 years after adult lung transplantation.
METHOD:

This multicentre, cross-sectional nationwide study includes 117 lung recipients due for follow-up at 1 year (n = 35), 2 years (n = 28), 3 years (n = 23), 4 years (n = 20) and 5 years (n = 11). Three different self-assessment instruments were utilised; The Postoperative Recovery Profile, the Organ Transplant Symptom and Well-Being Instrument, and the Psychological General Well-Being Instrument. Ethical approval of the study was obtained.
RESULTS:

Few (5.7%) lung recipients were recovered 1-5 years after lung transplantation and 27.6% were not recovered at all. No relationship was identified between present lung function and self-reported recovery or well-being. There was a strong relationship between recovery and well-being. It is possible to be partly recovered and experience good health. The most prevalent symptoms were tremor 66%, breathlessness 62%, and decreased libido 60%, while the symptoms perceived as most distressing were embarrassment about appearance, decreased libido, and poor appetite.
LIMITATIONS:

The cross-sectional design prevents identification of any causal relationships. Patient loss due to transplant mortality and inclusion difficulties resulted in a fairly small sample.
CONCLUSION:

Our findings suggest the need for changes in follow-up care such as systematic measurement of the degree of self-reported recovery and symptoms. This entails self-management support tailored to the recipients' symptom-management and health-management requirements. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
lung transplantation, nursing, posttransplant follow-up, recovery, self-management, symptoms, well-being
in
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
volume
33
issue
1
pages
176 - 184
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85055083060
  • pmid:30320482
ISSN
0283-9318
DOI
10.1111/scs.12618
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6c26ce4e-9ce9-4c0f-9f18-26f179dff063
date added to LUP
2019-01-09 14:11:37
date last changed
2025-01-08 23:53:33
@article{6c26ce4e-9ce9-4c0f-9f18-26f179dff063,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND:<br/><br/>In recent years, survival after lung transplantation has remained largely unchanged despite improvements in short-and intermediate-term survival, indicating the need to identify factors associated with recovery and long-term survival. Very little is known about how lung recipients recover after lung transplantation and whether such factors are related to symptom distress and well-being. This constitutes the rationale of the study.<br/>AIM:<br/><br/>The aim was to explore symptom prevalence and distress as well as the degree of self-reported perceived recovery and well-being 1-5 years after adult lung transplantation.<br/>METHOD:<br/><br/>This multicentre, cross-sectional nationwide study includes 117 lung recipients due for follow-up at 1 year (n = 35), 2 years (n = 28), 3 years (n = 23), 4 years (n = 20) and 5 years (n = 11). Three different self-assessment instruments were utilised; The Postoperative Recovery Profile, the Organ Transplant Symptom and Well-Being Instrument, and the Psychological General Well-Being Instrument. Ethical approval of the study was obtained.<br/>RESULTS:<br/><br/>Few (5.7%) lung recipients were recovered 1-5 years after lung transplantation and 27.6% were not recovered at all. No relationship was identified between present lung function and self-reported recovery or well-being. There was a strong relationship between recovery and well-being. It is possible to be partly recovered and experience good health. The most prevalent symptoms were tremor 66%, breathlessness 62%, and decreased libido 60%, while the symptoms perceived as most distressing were embarrassment about appearance, decreased libido, and poor appetite.<br/>LIMITATIONS:<br/><br/>The cross-sectional design prevents identification of any causal relationships. Patient loss due to transplant mortality and inclusion difficulties resulted in a fairly small sample.<br/>CONCLUSION:<br/><br/>Our findings suggest the need for changes in follow-up care such as systematic measurement of the degree of self-reported recovery and symptoms. This entails self-management support tailored to the recipients' symptom-management and health-management requirements.}},
  author       = {{Lundmark, Martina and Lennerling, Annette and Almgren, Matilda and Forsberg, Anna}},
  issn         = {{0283-9318}},
  keywords     = {{lung transplantation; nursing; posttransplant follow-up; recovery; self-management; symptoms; well-being}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{176--184}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences}},
  title        = {{Recovery, symptoms, and well-being one to five years after lung transplantation – A multi-centre study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/scs.12618}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/scs.12618}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}