Factors associated with changes in quality of life in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation It is well known that patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) experience changes in quality of life. We investigated factors associated with quality of life changes in adult HSCT patients. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Bone Marrow Transplantation (FACT-BMT) scale, supplemented with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Spiritual Well-being (FACIT-Sp) subscale, was administered on three occasions, immediately before transplantation, 100 days and 12 months after transplantation. Analyses of nine selected factors were made where changes in quality of life were found. Seventy-five patients were included and 40 of these completed the study. Emotional well-being was found to improve between the baseline and 100 days, while all other dimensions deteriorated, including overall quality of life. Physical and social/family well-being deteriorated between the baseline and the 12-month follow-up, while emotional well-being improved. The main factors associated with deteriorating quality of life over time were found to be significant infections, female gender and transplantation with stem cells from a sibling donor. In our further studies we aim to focus on the relationships between patients and sibling donors in order to improve the care. Careful attention must be paid to continuous adequate information during the transplantation procedure.

The first international recommendations and guidelines for the care of sibling stem cell donors were established in 2010, and have not yet been evaluated. However, a model for information and care of adult potential sibling stem cell donors (the IC model) developed and introduced at the Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, in 2005 conforms closely to them. The IC model aims to protect the privacy of potential donors, support and respect their free choice, and identify quickly those unwilling or unable to donate and thus minimize delay in seeking alternative donors. To evaluate the IC model a questionnaire survey in 2010 gathered the perceptions and views on information provision; influences over decision making; and care provision under the IC model of 148 adult siblings informed about SCT donation, and asked to undergo HLA-typing since September 2005 at the hospital. The results suggest the IC model works well but highlights areas for improvement, such as in delivery of HLA typing results to non-matched siblings, and a need to further prevent complicating influence from health professionals and relatives on the decision to undergo HLA typing. Thus improved, the IC model could provide the groundwork for other SCT units seeking to implement the recommendations and guidelines.

Background Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potential cure for a variety of diseases but is also associated with significant risks. With HSCT the donor is either a relative, most often a sibling, or an unrelated registry donor. Purpose The aim was to explore patients’ experiences, immediately before transplantation, regarding having a sibling as donor. Method Ten adult patients with sibling donors were interviewed before admission for HSCT. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results The main theme Being in no man’s land is a metaphor for the patients’ complex situation with its mixture of emotions and thoughts prior to transplantation. The three subthemes Trust in the sibling donor, Concern about others and Loss of control cover the various experiences. The patient’s experiences are influenced by their personal situation and the quality of the relationship with the sibling donor. While patients feel secure in having a sibling donor, they are dependent for their survival on the cell donation and feel responsible for the donor’s safety during donation. These emotions intensify the patients’ sense of dependency and loss of control. Conclusions In caring for HSCT patients the nurses should be aware of the complexity of the patients’ situation and keep in mind that having a sibling donor might imply extra pressure, including a sense of responsibility. Caring for both patients and sibling donors optimally is a challenge, which needs further improvement and exploration.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of knowledge about sibling stem cell donors' experiences pre-donation and the waiting period before the donation might have been long. The donors and their corresponding sibling recipients were simultaneously included in two different interview studies. The results from the recipient study have been presented in a separate paper. PURPOSE: The aim was to explore the experiences of being a stem cell donor for a sibling, prior to donation. METHOD: Ten adult sibling donors were interviewed prior to stem cell donation. The interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and subjected to qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The main theme Being a cog in a big wheel describes the complex process of being a sibling donor prior to donation, covering a mixture of emotions and thoughts. The four subthemes Being available, Being anxious, Being concerned and Being obliged cover the various experiences. The sibling donors' experiences are influenced by the quality of the relationship with the sick sibling. CONCLUSIONS: Sibling stem cell donors go through a complex process once they have accidentally got involved in. They have been asked to become a donor; it was not a voluntary choice. In caring for sibling stem cell donors the nurses should be aware of the complexity of the process they experience and take into consideration their personal situation and needs. Providing optimal care for both sibling donors and their corresponding recipients is a challenge, and further improvement and exploration are needed.