The Strategies Used to Balance Health and Work Across the Solid Organ Transplantation Trajectory.

Introduction: Workers who undergo solid organ transplantation report frequent conflicts between the unpredictable demands of their health condition and the rigid requirements of their employer and of health services. The present study aimed to describe the self-management strategies adopted by workers while staying at work before transplantation and during sustainable return-to-work posttransplantation. Methods: Fifteen employed kidney, liver, and lung transplant recipients were recruited from 2 large urban university health centers in Montreal, Canada. Three focus groups were held, and thematic analysis was performed. Findings: Seven strategies were identified: responding promptly and consistently to fatigue-related needs, planning ahead with immediate supervisors while remaining strategic about when to disclose transplantation, requesting work accommodations, requesting flexibility in healthcare provision, consulting physicians about work-related issues, informing co-workers about work limitations and immunosuppression and asking not to be treated differently in the workplace. Conclusion: Access to work accommodations, support from physicians and flexibility in treatment and appointment schedules supported workers' ability to manage their health while staying at work before and after undergoing solid organ transplantation. In light of findings, it may be useful for healthcare professionals to address workers' concerns about work limitations and work accommodation implementation, especially when the illness-management burden increases before transplantation and during posttransplantation sick leave. Future studies could describe the strategies used by other important stakeholders when attempting to provide support to workers.

A qualitative systematic review of factors affecting caregivers' decision-making for care setting placements for individuals with dementia.

AIMS: To synthesize factors that facilitates or hinders the choice of a new living environment for a person with dementia by the informal caregiver. BACKGROUND: In an effort to develop evidenced-based interventions to support caregivers, it is essential to explore their experience. DESIGN: A qualitative systematic review using thematic synthesis. Studies published up to July 2019 were retrieved from four electronic databases. Two independent reviewers selected studies and assessed their methodological quality. FINDINGS: Choosing a new living environment for a person with dementia includes two main concerns for caregivers: (1) evaluating the current living environment and caregiving arrangements; and (2) evaluating potential living environments. The key factor, that is acceptability, reflects the extent to which a change of living environment is personally and socially perceived as desirable, suitable, as well as decent for all stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS: Future interventions must consider that caregivers' decision-making process is highly social and value-laden.