Heart Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Heart Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Somebody else's heart inside me: a descriptive study of psychological problems after a heart transplantation.

Kaba E, Thompson DR, Burnard P, Edwards D, Theodosopoulou E

General Hospital of Volos, Greece. evridiki_kaba@yahoo.com

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.

Published 15 July 2005 in Issues Ment Health Nurs, 26(6): 611-25.
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