P563Effects of tele-case-management program on the improvements of symptoms distress, and depressive symptoms in heart transplant recipients

Abstract

Background: Patients have to receive the heart transplantation when they have severe heart failure (NYHA Fc IV) without effective responses to medical therapy. Although patients may prolong their life after heart transplantation, they have to take immunosuppressive drugs lifelong. How to strike a balance between avoiding infection and preventing rejection causes patients both physiological and psychological distress. The tele-health care could provide immediate care, and reduce the degrees of anxiety and depression for heart transplant recipients. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to develop the Tele-Case-Management Program, and determine its effects on the improvements of the symptom distress, and depressive symptom in heart transplant recipients.