Hsueh-Erh Liu
Chang Gung University, Taiwan
Title: Knowledge and behaviors of self-care of the liver transplanted patients
Biography
Biography: Hsueh-Erh Liu
Abstract
This is a cross-sectional survey that 128 liver transplanted patients were recruited from OPD in a medical center at northern Taiwan. We collected the information related to self-care knowledge and behaviors, health locus of control, and personal information (included demographic and medical related variables) by questionniares. Results of descriptive statistics showed that subjects were charterized as: male (81.3%), married (81.3%); senior high school educated (32.8%); and Buddhist (48.4%). Their mean age was 52.1 years (SD=8.74; rnage: 20-72 years). In regard to employment, 19.5% were unemployed prior liver transplantation. After transplantation, 38.3% returned to work, and 4.7% changed their work, and 20.3% returned to work within 6 months. Before transplantation, their major diagnosis was B-hepatis (35.2%), hepatoma (25%) and terminal stage of liver cirrhosis (21.9%). Mean duration since transplantation was 3.24 years (SD=2.68; range: 0.37-15.92 years). Most of the transplantation were done in Taiwan (94.5%). 77.3% of the subjects experienced complication after transplantation, such as rejection, bile duct illness, and infection. The correct rate towards knowledge of self-care was 69.4%, indicating a moderate level of knowledge. The frequency of performing self-care hehaviors was 81.5%. The results of stepwise regression found that knowledge level of self-care could be ptrdicted by: duration since transplantion, age, and health locus of control (R2=21.8%). In addition, years of education, income higher than 40000NT/month(US$1333), age, and has religion were the predictors of self-care behaviors (R2 = 24.2%). Clinical implications were discussed within the text.