nurses can use structured surveys to explore and promote patients' satisfaction with and ability to engage in daily activities and ensure appropriate referrals to rehabilitation during recovery from SCT.
Stem cell transplantation is an aggressive therapy for hematological malignancies in which a damaged immune system is essentially destroyed and replaced with healthy stem cells. This article reports the results of semi-structured interviews with 18 survivors of either autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Participants were interviewed after they had reached 100 days post-transplant and asked to discuss their activities, daily routines, and experiences since being discharged from the hospital. Activity engagement was mentioned by participants as a way to promote health, help reconnect one with his or her pre-transplant identity and lifestyle, and measure progress toward improved stamina. Although many participants reported a gradual resumption of previous routines, some participants described a more complicated process of reconstructing their daily routine in response to changes in their environment or career.
Introduction Caregivers of patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation need encouragement to maintain their own wellbeing. This feasibility study explored a six-session wellness intervention for caregivers entitled Ready to CARE (Connect, Actively Relax, and Exercise). Method This study used a single-arm pre–post design to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures. The individual, participant-directed intervention was initiated at hospitalization for stem cell reinfusion. Caregivers completed telephone surveys on four occasions and engaged in one semi-structured interview to share their perceptions of the intervention. Results Twenty participants enrolled and completed the baseline survey, with 50%, 90%, and 80% completing the subsequent three surveys, respectively. Seventy-four percent completed all six sessions of the intervention. Caregivers most often used the sessions to set goals related to physical activity (36%), stress management (14%), sleep (13%), and caregiving tasks (11%). Caregivers reported appreciation of the intervention’s focus on supporting caregivers, taking action with goal-setting, and allowing caregivers to determine the focus of the goals. Scheduling the sessions was the most problematic aspect of the intervention. Conclusion While caregivers were open to a wellness intervention, a high degree of flexibility and tailoring is needed to engage and support busy caregivers. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT03210727
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