Experiences and Understanding of Well-Being in Lung Transplant Recipients in China: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study

Aim: To explore lung transplant recipients' perceptions of well-being when they are facing uncertain health outcomes, including identifying the factors to enhance well-being.

Design: A qualitative descriptive study.

Methods: A purposive sample of 11 lung transplantation recipients who were hospitalised in the Department of Organ Transplantation of a tertiary university hospital was recruited in China. A descriptive qualitative study using thematic analysis of semistructured interviews. Themes were organised within a PERMA model. Colaizzi's qualitative analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results: Five major themes and 11 categories were generated: (1) mindset shift [optimism and hope and living in the moment]; (2) meaning in life [self-care, priority change and value realisation]; (3) health benefits [improved health and behavioural changes]; (4) perceived support [support from family, the health care team and others]; (5) unmet support needs.

Conclusion: Lung transplant recipients could perceive well-being from five aspects that caused significantly favourable transformation across a variety of aspects in patients' lives. These findings may support nursing staff when caring for this patient group, making them aware of multifaceted nature of well-being. They could offer insight into potential pathways for the development of nurse-led tailored interventions, based on specific elements of PERMA model.

Impact: This work adds to a growing body of knowledge about well-being amongst lung transplant patients. These findings may support nursing staff when caring for this patient group, making them aware of multifaceted nature of well-being and illustrating factors that promote positive well-being in this group, based on specific elements of PERMA model.

Reporting method: This study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist.

Patient or public contribution: Two lung transplant recipients were involved in the early phases of this study. They helped in formulating the interview outline.