Family caregiver information needs of the liver transplantation candidates

• Grant number: 11/18010-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Karina Dal Sasso Mendes
• Grantee: Amanda Silva e Sá
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Liver transplantation is considered a choice treatment for cases of progressive irreversible and terminal liver disease, which finds no other treatment available. The literature on the information needs of family members of candidates awaiting liver transplantation is not well known, indicating the existence of gaps in knowledge in this area. The purpose of this study is to characterize the subjects according to socio-demographic variables and identify the information needs of family caregivers of candidates on the waiting list for liver transplantation. It is a descriptive study, the target population will be the family caregivers of the liver transplantation candidates, awaiting the transplant. Will be used as a questionnaire to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of the family caregiver and a questionnaire to assess information needs. During the application of the needs assessment information questionnaire, the family will be asked to order by importance, ten topics that they would like to learn before the accomplishment of liver transplantation candidates. Data analysis will be performed in a descriptive way. Data on quantitative variables will be summarized in the form of arithmetic mean and standard deviation. Data for qualitative variables will be summarized as percentages. It is hoped that this study produce scientific knowledge about the information needs of family caregivers, in order to contribute to future educational interventions for this clientele.(AU)