Continuity of Care Needs and Dilemmatic Experiences of Lung Transplant Recipients: A Qualitative Study

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe lung transplantation recipients' expectations and dilemmatic experiences of continuity of care. A phenomenological research method was used to conduct face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 22 lung transplant recipients who visited the lung transplant centre of a hospital in Eastern China for follow-up visits, and NVivo 14 software was used to analyse the interview data and refine the themes. Four themes were identified in this study, including information support, maintaining collaborative relationships, standardised management, and facing multiple challenges. Accurately assessing patients' needs and experiences, developing and implementing effective continuity of care strategies, providing timely support and professional guidance, and maintaining a close working relationship with patients are effective means of ensuring the quality of information and continuity of relationships. At the same time, attention to assessing the quality and competence of condition management in different healthcare organisations, as well as assessing the effectiveness of telemedicine platform management, is also necessary to improve the quality of continuity of care.