Needs Assessment of Self-Care Training Based on Cellphone to Design an Application for Liver Transplant Patients

Patients who receive liver transplant will face various limitations and challenges during their lives, of which they often do not have enough information,  affecting their life quality. The use of health applications is increasing. The aim of this study is to identify the educational needs for designing an application program for liver transplant patients.

This was an applied and descriptive study. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity and reliability were checked and confirmed. The research community was gastroenterology and liver specialists, and 18 people were purposefully selected from among the specialists working in the liver clinic of Motahari and Abu Ali Sina Organ Transplant Hospital in Shiraz. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics with SPSS version 23.

Educational items were determined in the form of 10 main axes. The results showed that among the main concepts of the disease, most of the necessary cases were recognized. However, items including liquids, types of exercise, skin cancer, cytomegalovirus symptoms, swallowing stimulants and spicy substances, and correct brushing were not deemed necessary.

Educational needs in the form of transplant drugs, nutrition, exercise, cancer, cytomegalovirus, gastrointestinal complications after liver transplantation, diabetes, oral and dental care, motherhood, and sexual needs were determined. Considering the emphasis on the patients participation in their health and the use of a practical program, determining the educational needs of transplant patients increases awareness and better management of the disease.