Qualitative research on the real experience of patients with hepatic failure undergoing artificial liver treatment

Objective To explore the real experience of patients with hepatic failure during artificial liver treatment. Methods Totally 10 patients with hepatic failure undergoing artificial liver treatment hospitalized in Department of Liver Disease of Nantong the Third Hospital of Nantong University from January to June 2016 were selected as the research objects by objective sampling method. Semi-structured interview method was used to conduct the deep interview and know the real experience of patients. Results Four themes were extracted by interviewing the real experience of patients with hepatic failure during artificial liver treatment, which were: comfortable change, anxiety, fear, lack of effective coping capacity and lack of knowledge. Conclusions Patients with hepatic failure suffer great physical and mental pains during artificial liver treatment. Nursing staff should take positive measures to relieve patients' discomforts and negative moods, improve patients' coping capacity and promote their quality of life. Key words: Liver failure; Liver, artificial; Real experience; Qualitative research