Abstract
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of kidney transplant recipients is an outcome evaluation after kidney transplants. Therefore, we investigated the associations among perceived health status, social support, self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and kidney transplant recipients’ HRQOL. This study involved a descriptive, self-report survey of 163 kidney transplant recipients visiting an outpatient solid organ transplant center in South Korea. Participants’ general and transplant characteristics, perceived health status, post-traumatic growth, social support, self-determination, and HRQOL were collected. Data were statistically analyzed using the software SPSS version 25.0. HRQOL showed statistically significant positive correlation with perceived health status (r = .56, p < .001), post-traumatic growth (r = .18, p = .022), social support (r = .25, p = .002), and self-determination (r = .36, p < .001). The factors affecting HRQOL were perceived health status (β = 0.47, p < 0.001), post-transplant occupation (β = 0.17, p = 0.009), and income source (β = -0.13, p = 0.046). The explanatory power of these variables was 34.8% (F = 28.81, p < 0.001). In the subdomains of HRQOL, the factors influencing HRQOL of mental component summary were perceived health status (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), self-determination (β = 0.27, p < 0.001), and education level (β = 0.18, p = 0.006). The explanatory power of these variables was 34.8% (F = 28.81, p < 0.001). To promote the HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients, an institutional system to assist kidney transplant recipients in returning to work needs to be developed. Additionally, creating an environment that allows kidney transplant recipients to act with self-determination, and developing intervention programs that can enhance self-determination will contribute to enhancing the HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients.
Highlights
Study significanceKidney transplantation is a treatment that improves the health, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and survival rate of patients with end-stage renal disease [1, 2]
It was found that HRQOL is associated with perceived health status, social support, post-traumatic growth, and self-determination
The creation of environments in which kidney transplant recipients can act with self-determination and developing intervention programs that can enhance self-determination will contribute to enhancing HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients
Summary
Kidney transplantation is a treatment that improves the health, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and survival rate of patients with end-stage renal disease [1, 2]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Efforts are being made to identify factors associated with the HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients [4,5,6], which includes the following: monthly income; religion [5]; perceived health status; post-transplant stress; social support [4]; and experienced symptoms such as fatigue, physical weakness, and reduced vision [7]. Kidney transplant recipients have to take immunosuppressants all their lives to prevent graft rejection [8] This medication may cause them to be more susceptible to infections, fractures, and developing diseases such as diabetes and malignant tumors [9]. We investigated the associations among perceived health status, social support, self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and HRQOL in kidney transplant recipients to suggest ways to improve kidney transplant recipients’ HRQOL. Our specific objectives were as follows: first, to describe the levels of perceived health status, social support, self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and HRQOL in kidney transplant recipients; second, to investigate the differences in HRQOL according to general and transplant-related characteristics of kidney transplant recipients; thirdly, to identify the relationship among perceived health status, social support, self-determination, post-traumatic growth, and HRQOL in kidney transplant recipients; and, fourthly, to identify the factors, including perceived health status, social support, self-determination, and post-traumatic growth, influencing HRQOL of kidney transplant recipients
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