“The Catch-Up Group”
Regional Transplant Recipients Receiving Targeted Education in their Local Community
Larna Woodyatt
Ballarat Health Services, Victoria & DonateLife Vitoria
The Beginnings
• Formed in March 2017
• Opportunity to come together and share stories with people who have been
through similar experiences
• Relaxed, informal, safe space to talk and socialize
• First invitation went out to 13 local transplant recipients
Nurse Donation Specialist in Victoria
• Clinical Services in Hospital
• Donor Family Support
• Education
• Community Engagement
Ballarat
Spread the word!
Membership
• Anyone with a connection to transplantation is most welcome
• Ballarat and surrounding areas
• Over 45 people on mailing list
• Average 10 people at each group
1 12 6 12 1
orgamites.com
Ongoing aims
• Never detract from the importance of transplant clinics
• Adjunct avenue in local community
• Lessen travel burden
Supporters
What is the best thing about
attending the group?
Topics for 2018?
Session so far
• Chat with a local donor family
• Skin cancer info with a Dermatologist
• Medication overview with Pharmacist
• Diet info with Dietitian
Alert!
Every speaker is always very clear that their presentations and the information shared is
advise only and that any thoughts on changing or adding anything to their regime should
ALWAYS be discussed with their specialists at the transplant hospital
Common themes
• Thankfulness to donor and donor family
• Letter writing challenges and experiences
• Raising awareness of donation
• Wanting to give back
What do you like best about the Catch-Up Groups?
Hearing everyone else’s stories, how they have coped and what difference transplants have made in their lives!
Meeting new people who know what your going through and pick up tips or ideas concerning our transplants. It’s a very special group of people!
I appreciate the company of other transplant recipients who have gone through similar situations and ordeals and how the handled them
What has been the highlight of the Catch-Up Groups?
That the group exists!!!
I love hearing the donor family speak and having the health professionals come is always interesting
My first catch up meeting, I was not aware of just how many organ transplant recipients there are in the Ballarat area and the also the warm welcome I received
Is it important to you that this group is held in your local
community?
I do think it is important that the Catch Ups are held in the local community as some may not be able/ or do not want to drive or travel any distance to attend for a short time
It is important - sometimes it feels like you’re the only one around going through what you are, even though I know I’m not. It is just nice to have people where you live, chatting about similar challenges or comparing experiences. It’s encouraging as well. And also nice to bump into these folk around town, living life!!
Literature Review
Education opportunities for regional transplant recipients in their own community =
Support Groups for regional transplant recipients in their own community =
“The healing impact of social support is manifested by the sense of belonging and connection that gives a sense of hope and courage that people feel they are not alone
in their journey.”
(Grumme, 2016)
“Persons receiving organ transplants experience a wide range of psychological and emotional challenges to their sense of self and well-being… requiring recipients to draw upon inner strength and resources, as
well as external social support from family, friends and members of the healthcare
team.”
(Grumme, 2016)
Traditional face-to-face support groups for transplant recipients are usually affiliated
with and/or located at major healthcare organisations that preform organ
transplants.
(Grumme, 2016 & Ordin, 2016)
What I do know
The Ballarat Transplant Recipient Catch- Up Group is the only group of it’s kind in Victoria, and as far as I can ascertain, it is the only one of its kind in all of Australia
Research being
conducted
What’s on for 2019?
• Support for those waiting for transplant
• Emotional support and wellbeing
• Focus on Carer and relationship support
• Financial support advise
• Group activities
• Suggestions?!?!
Key Messages
• Local Community
• Education & Information
• Relaxed & Informal
• Ease Travel Burden
• Vital Network
• Social Support
References
• Grumme, V. S. & Gordon, S.C. (2016). Social media use by transplant recipients for support and healing.
CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 34(12), 570- 577. Retrieved from CINHAL Plus on 18/09/2018.
• Ordin, Y.S. & Karayurt, O. (2016). Effects of a support group intervention on physical, psychological, and
social adaptation of liver transplant recipients.
Experimental and Clinical Transplantation, 3, 329-337.
doi:10.6002/etc.2014.0220
• All images from Google Image
• All photographs used with permission
