Uncertainty after heart transplantation - A new perspective on self-efficacy and self-management

.................................................................................................................... 7 Original papers .......................................................................................................... 8 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................. 9 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 11 Background ............................................................................................................. 12 The development of heart transplantation ..................................................... 12 Survival after heart transplantation ................................................................ 12 Complications and risk factors ....................................................................... 12 Previous research ........................................................................................... 13 Heart transplantation and outcomes ..................................................... 13 Viewpoints and perspectives .................................................................................... 15 Theoretical framework ............................................................................................. 16 Uncertainty in illness ..................................................................................... 16 Uncertainty in acute illness ................................................................... 16 Uncertainty in chronic illness ................................................................ 17 Previous research on uncertainty ........................................................... 17 Additional important concepts ...................................................................... 18 Self-efficacy ........................................................................................... 18 Self-management .................................................................................. 18 Rationale ................................................................................................................. 20 Aim ......................................................................................................................... 21 Specific aims .................................................................................................. 21 Methods .................................................................................................................. 22 Design ........................................................................................................... 22 Sample selection and context of the study ...................................................... 22 Data collection .............................................................................................. 23 Data analysis ................................................................................................. 23 Phenomenological hermeneutics (Paper I) ............................................ 23 Content analysis (Paper II) ................................................................... 24 Ethical considerations .................................................................................... 25 Results ..................................................................................................................... 26 Uncertainty ................................................................................................... 26 Self-efficacy in the context of heart transplantation ........................................ 28 Performance accomplishment ............................................................... 28 Complications, setbacks, treatment and side effects ............................... 28 Vicarious experience ............................................................................. 29