The effect of support group intervention on knowledge, symptom and quality of life in adult liver transplant recipients

Objective: This study was conducted explored to adaptation of liver transplant (LT) recipients using the Roy Adaptation Model, in order to test the validity and reliability of Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale-59 Items Revised, evaluate to effects of Roy?s adaptation model-based support group on knowledge, symptom and quality of life levels of liver transplant recipients Method: Research was composed of three phases with methodological, quasi-experimental and descriptive parts. At qualitative research, was conducted data with either individual or group interviews based Roy Adaptation Model from from 21 liver transplant recipients and used deductive content analysis. At methodological research, was conducted data from liver, kidney transplant recipients (N= 180) and healthy control subjects (N=180). At quasi-experimental research, was conducted data from LT recipients consisted intervention (n: 35) group and control group (n: 38). Data was collected before, after and three monrhs after support group. Data were analyzed with t-test, ridit analysis and repeated measures analysis of variance with a comparison between group factors. Results: At qualitative research, patients? adaptive and non-adaptive behaviors was explored in adaptation modes of Roy adaptation model. At methodological research, the content validity index was perfect (i.e. value 1.0). The name of scale was MTSORD-58TR because the sacle is contained 58 items after face. The Turkish translation of the MTSORD-59R had excellent construct validity. Split half spearman brown corrected reliability coefficient was .991 and .992 for symptom occurrence and symptom distress respectively. At quasi-experimental research, support group intervention was found to effective in increased to knowldge level, decreased to symptom level and increased to quality of life of LT (p < .05). Conclucion: At qualitative research, was provided important data related to adaptation process after transplantation with explored to experiences of LT recipients using Roy Adaptation Model. At methodological research, was found validated and reliabilited to Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Symptom Distress Scale-59 Items Revised in Turkish organ transplantation recipients. At quasi-experimental research, was found that support group intervention supported to physical and psycgological adaptation with positive effected to knowledge level, symptom and quality of life of LT recipients.