2025 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 109-117
[Objective] To determine the ideal state of collaboration and support between medical and nursing care for patients receiving long-term home support for destination therapy-ventricular assist devices (DT-VAD).
[Methods] An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted at the facilities implementing and managing destination therapy in the Kyushu and Okinawa regions, and among medical staff at visiting nursing stations with experience in caring for patients with DT-VAD. Descriptive statistics and free descriptions were analyzed qualitatively and inductively.
[Results] Responses were obtained from 35 participants from various professions, and 12 of them mentioned issues such as “coordination and expansion of medical and nursing care,” “examination of services, assuming the absence of caregivers,” and “support systems in remote islands and areas” as being necessary for building a home support system for DT-VAD.
[Conclusion] In supporting patients with DT-VAD, greater cooperation and collaboration are needed with home care physicians, visiting caregivers, and home care support offices.
