The matter of the heart

The Role of Occupational Therapy in a Health Maintenance Program for Pulmonary Transplant Candidates

“…In this model, the choices, habits, roles and skills of the patient are considered from a systems perspective. Functional difficulties of transplant candidates that may be amenable to occupational therapy intervention according to this format include: family role changes; loss of functional role status and feelings of helplessness; changing role expectations of family and friends; physical discomfort and associated dysfunction; locus of control; changing motivations, interests and values; and changing patterns of daily living activities (Devins, Yitzchak, Hollomby, Barre, & Guttman, 1981;Devins, et al, 1984;Kluge, 1989;Kuhn et al, 1988;Levinson & Olbrisch, 1987;Meserve, 1984;Omery & Caswell, 1988;Suszycki, 1988;Sutton & Murphy, 1989).…”

“…This research might attempt to determine if there is any scientific basis for the belief that positive emotions have salutary effects on the body's chemistry and function (Meserve, 1984). Sutton and Murphy (1989) suggest future research to determine the extent to which coping strategies are effective in alleviating stress and at what period of adjustment selected strategies are most efficacious.…”

“…These are a workup period to establish eligibility for a new heart, a waiting period for a donor, a postoperative period and a postdischarge period. Although the applicability of these stages specifically to pulmonary transplant candidates has not been verified, the waiting period is recognized as a stage in the emotional adjustment of transplant candidates (Chambers, 1982;Kluge, 1989;Levinson & Olbrisch, 1987;Meserve, 1984;Mishel, 1987;Suszycki, 1988;Trzepacz et al, 1989).…”

Attitudes of Potential Candidates for Heart and Heart-Lung Transplantation to Xenotransplantation

“…Staff were interested in the views of patients waiting for thoracic organs because research suggests that people see heart transplantation as more significant because of the heart's symbolic importance. [10][11][12] Spe cifically, it has been suggested that the acceptance of a heart may be complicated by the mythological beliefs attributed to it by the recipient 13,14 and the pa tients' concerns that they may take on characteristics of the donor. 15 It was in the light of these inquires and dis cussion that this exploratory investigation was undertaken.…”