IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Science (IOSR-JNHS) e-ISSN: 2320–1959.p- ISSN: 2320–1940 Volume 8, Issue 6 Ser. IV. (Nov - Dec .2019), PP 55-64 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1959-0806045564 www.iosrjournals.org 55 | Page Effect of an Educational Program on the Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation Asmaa Abouda Abdelhamed Soultan 1 , Hanem Awad Mekhamier Gab-Allha 2 , Madiha Hassan Nabih Mohamed 3 1 Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Fayoum University, Egypt 2 Lecturer of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Fayoum University 1 Lecturer of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt Corresponding Author: Asmaa Abouda Abdelhamed Soultan Abstract: Background: Organ transplantation has the prospective to rapidly return end stage liver disease (ESLD)patients’ health and wellbeing. Aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of an educational program on quality of life for patients undergoing liver transplantation. Methods: A quasi-experimental research design with pre-post and follow up assessment was used to conduct the study atoutpatient liver transplantation units in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Center, Mansoura University, Egypt from the beginning of December 2017 to end of May 2019.Subjects:A purposive sample of 80 patients undergoing liver transplantation was included. Tools:Two tools were used for data collection;1)Structured interviewing questionnaireto collect data about the patients' demographic characteristics, past and medical history, andPatient’s knowledge related to liver transplantation2) The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate quality of life (QoL). Results: patient knowledge had significantly increased after implementation of educational program; satisfactory knowledge scores increased to 87.5% with a highly statistically significant at P< 0.01. Also, a statistically significant differences noticed in all dimensions of QoL after implementation of educational program with obvious significant improvement in PCS (physical component summary) and MCS (mental component summary) can be noticed at p < 0.05. A positive correlation founded between patients' knowledge and QOL. The study concluded that the educational program was effective in improving level of knowledge, with significant quality of life improvement of patients undergoing liver transplantation.The study recommended that Assuring the importance of heath educational program as a usual care in liver transplantation unitsand during home visits to improve health outcomes and QOL.Disseminate health education booklet and posters for patients undergoing liver transplant related to quality of life will be effective to increase patient knowledge as well as focus on the continuity of home health care. Replication of the study on large study sample Key Words: Educational program,Liver transplantation, Quality of life. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 11-11-2019 Date of acceptance: 27-11-2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Chronic liver disease carries alterations in several tissuestructures, producingvarious problems that disturb the patients’ functioning and performance thatdeleteriouslydisturb their QOL[1].End-stage liver failure is a pathological state that has excessive impact on people’s live. Liver transplantation is a promisingtherapy withbeneficialintent for the incurablephases of chronic liver disease (CLD), and delivers the only opportunity for reversing the life-threatening situation, which impacts the biological, psychological and social levels [2]. Transplantation processes carry substantial morbidity and possiblysevere complications including organ rejection, infections, and recurrence of disease. Earlierresearches have confirmed significant improvements in post-transplant QOL, however patients seem to have continuinginsufficiencies when compared to healthy controls[3]. Quality of life is a patient-reported measure involved, emotional well-being, physical and social functioning. It mirrors on the awareness of an individual concerning their health. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) focuses on the diseaseeffects on every dimension of an individual's life including physical, social, psychological dimensions[4].QoLwould be a main concern for health care personalworking in transplant field and should be the absolute “major outcome” to appraise the long term success of liver transplantation. QOL in liver transplantation is positivelyaffected by several factors including mental condition, sociodemographic elements, liver disease, immunosuppressive drugs, time on the waiting list[5]. Patients’ education is abroad and intended learning practice that is attained by means of long-term learning ways, counselling and behavioral changeskills that proposed to improve the patient’s knowledge and health behavior [6].The nurse’s role in patient education is of extreme importance but also a challenge,