Effects of Roy's adaptation model-based nursing interventions on care outcomes in liver transplant recipients

Aim: The aim of this study was to reveal knowledge needs and effects of Roy's adaptation model-based nursing interventions on anxiety, depression and the quality of life in living liver transplant recipients. Methods: The study had two steps. One had a qualitative design and the other had a quasi-experimental design. In the qualitative step, data were collected with a semi-structured interview form and through in-depth interviews with 16 living liver transplant recipients. In the quasi-experimental step, data were collected with Patient Characteristics Form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and SF-36 Quality of Life Scale before transplantation and at 1 and 3 months after discharge from a total of 61 living liver transplant recipients, of whom 31 were in the control group and 30 were in the intervention group. Obtained data were analyzed with the descriptive statistics numbers, percentages, mean, standard deviation, χ2 test, t test and two-way variance analysis for repeated measures. Findings: In the qualitative study, two themes emerged, i.e. knowledge needs before transplantation and knowledge needs after transplantation. The former theme had three subthemes and the latter had four subthemes. In the quasi-experimental study, Roy's adaptation model-based nursing interventions (education given through an interactive education CD and guide and individual counseling) were found to reduce anxiety and depression and improve the quality of life (p<0.05). Conclusion: In the qualitative study, knowledge needs of the living liver recipients were revealed and important data which will provide guidance for nursing interventions directed towards life after transplantation were obtained. The results of the quasi-experimental study revealed that Roy's adaptation model-based nursing interventions can decrease anxiety and depression and enhance the quality of life after transplantation. Key Words: Liver Transplant Recipient, Knowledge Needs, Roy's Adaptation Model, Nursing Intervention, Anxiety, Depression and the Quality of Life