A nurses’ perspective of why people relapse

Abstract

Background Alcohol related diseases are a major health concern for Scotland, costing the country over £3.6 billion per year. Liver transplantation is a recognised treatment for alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a chronic, life threatening condition caused by excess alcohol consumption. However, studies show that approximately 40% of individuals with ALD relapse to alcohol post-liver transplant, damaging their new organ. A current worldwide organ shortage means that it is vital to understand the reasons behind these relapses, and gain awareness about how to successfully support this patient group in remaining abstinent. Aim The aim of this study is to uncover a nurses’ perspective of why people relapse to alcohol post-liver transplant. It is believed that this information will shed new light on this topic, providing enhanced knowledge and understanding about nurse patient interactions posttransplant. Methods 10 nurses will be recruited for this research study, 5 ward nurses from the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit (SLTU) and 5 alcohol liaison nurses (ALN). Semi-structured interviews will be conducted to gain their opinions and experiences concerning why people relapse to alcohol post-liver transplant. This descriptive, exploratory study also seeks to gain insight into how the nurses believe the patient group could be better supported in their recovery and abstinence. Implications Findings from this research proposal aim to inform nursing practice by enhancing knowledge and raising awareness of this highly important topic. Data will provide a preliminary insight into how the work and attitudes of Scottish transplant nurses can influence recovery of people post-liver transplant for ALD