ABSTRACT
Patients' understanding of discharge teaching is an essential factor for compliance with medications and follow-up care after an organ transplant. This study compared the knowledge gained by the current method of individualized discharge teaching with that same teaching method plus a videotape. Fifty participants were assigned alternately to two groups. A written test was used to assess knowledge after teaching. Test scores indicated that the two methods were equally effective. Qualitative data gathered during interviews indicated that both groups were equally satisfied with their education. It was concluded that videotaped education is an acceptable and effective strategy when used in conjunction with other methods. Varying the medium for education will meet the unique learning needs of more patients.
Subject(s)
Patient Discharge , Patient Education as Topic/methods , Teaching Materials/standards , Transplantation/psychology , Videotape Recording/standards , Adult , Humans , Middle Aged , Patient SatisfactionABSTRACT
Our data suggest that CMVIG in combination with ganciclovir effectively reduces the incidence, and delays the onset of CMV infections in seropositive lung transplant recipients. In addition, its use may be associated with less severe CMV infection and a lower incidence of bacterial or fungal opportunistic infection. Although the number of patients in the study is small, high-titer CMVIG may be more effective than standard titer immunoglobulin in the prevention of CMV disease in lung transplant recipients. Several questions remain in addition to these: What is the optimal dosage and duration of treatment with CMVIG for prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease in lung transplant recipients; Is this strategy cost-effective; Will it reduce the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis following lung transplantation and enhance allograft survival? A prospective, random-assignment trial is warranted to answer these questions.
