Nurses' perceptions of the meaning of quality of life for bone marrow transplant survivors.

Nurses play an integral role in the care of bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients from pre-transplant to posttransplant. The purpose of this study was to explore the nurses' perceptions of the impact of transplant on the quality of life (QOL) of survivors. The conceptual framework for the study was the model of QOL developed by Ferrell, Grant, Schmidt, Rhiner, Whitehead, and Forman (1992). It depicts the QOL domains of physical well-being, psychological well-being, social concerns, and spiritual well-being. One hundred fifty nurses responded to a mailed survey. The items were based on the Quality of Life-BMT Survey used previously with patients. Nurses' and patients' responses to the same item were compared. Results reflect that transplant nurses generally perceived patients as having a poorer QOL than they actually reported. Nurses described transplant as having both positive and negative consequences. Transplant was seen as providing patients with a second chance at life and an opportunity to increase their QOL. Nurses described negative consequences as resulting from physical losses, psychological distress, financial distress, and loss of relationships. The findings of the study have implications for training future transplant nurses and for improving nursing care for transplant patients.