Lifestyle changes in heart transplant recipients. (8th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Yi‐Chen; Tung, Heng‐Hsin; Lai, Fu‐Chih; Wei, Jeng; Liang, Shu‐Yuan; Wu, Shu‐Fang
• Is Part Of: International journal of nursing practice. Volume 23(2017:Feb.)Supplement 1
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-01-08
• Subjects: heart transplant -- lifestyle -- nursing -- stress status; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Practice -- Periodicals; 610.73092
• DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1322-7114

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to understand the lifestyle; examine the relationships among lifestyle, medical factors, and stress status; and determine the predictors of better lifestyle in heart transplant recipients in Taiwan. A prospective design with convenience sampling was used. Data were collected through the Health‐Promoting Lifestyle Profile‐II and demographic questionnaires, which included personal information, stress status, and medical information. Pearson correlations, 1‐way analysis of variance, independent t tests, paired t tests, and hierarchical regression were used to analyze the factors related to better lifestyle. A total of 80 heart transplant recipients participated. The mean score for lifestyle decreased from baseline to 3 months and was even lower at 6 months. Nevertheless, the trend for some participants was the opposite—their lifestyle improved over the 6‐month period after baseline. Notably, the trend for each of the 6 subscales was not consistent with the mean of the total score. Stress status accounted for 12.8% of lifestyle. When stress status was combined with family income and creatinine, the 3 factors accounted for 32.2% of lifestyle. This study demonstrated that maintenance of a healthy lifestyle fluctuates after transplantation. Demographic factors and stress status can help to identify people who are more likely to have a poor lifestyle. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about the topic? Research has shown that lifestyle, certain medical factors, and stress status are associated with outcomes in heart transplant recipients. Comparable research, however, has not been conducted in Taiwan. What this paper adds? The lifestyle of heart transplant recipients is unstable. The trends for lifestyle mean scores from baseline to 3 months and then at 6 months were toward the lifestyle of recipients' becoming increasingly worse. Nevertheless, some individual trends were the opposite—lifestyle improved over the 6 months after baseline. The trend for each of the 6 subscales of lifestyle was not consistent with the mean of the total score. The trends for health responsibility, exercise, and interpersonal support were similar to the trends for the total scores; however, the trend for the remainder of the subscales—self‐actualization, nutrition, and stress management—was different. The implications of this paper: The use of demographic factors and stress status can help to identify people who are more likely to have a poor lifestyle. Clinicians need to design appropriate interventions, based on individual needs, to promote a healthy lifestyle.