Self-efficacy, self-care behaviours and quality of life of kidney transplant recipients

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 828 - 838
• Main Authors: Weng, Li-Chueh, Dai, Yu-Tzu, Huang, Hsiu-Li, Chiang, Yang-Jen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2010; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; kidney transplant recipients; Kidney Transplantation - psychology; Kidney Transplantation - rehabilitation; Kidneys; Male; Middle Aged; Nurses; Nursing; Quality of Life; Self Care; Self Efficacy; self-care behaviours; Taiwan; Transplants & implants; Taiwan
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2009.05243.x

weng l.‐c., dai y.‐t., huang h‐l. & chiang y‐j. (2010) Self‐efficacy, self‐care behaviours and quality of life of kidney transplant recipients. Journal of Advanced Nursing66(4), 828–838. Title.  Self‐efficacy, self‐care behaviours and quality of life of kidney transplant recipients. Aim.  This paper is a report of an exploration of the effects of self‐efficacy and different dimensions of self‐management on quality of life among kidney transplant recipients. Background.  Self‐efficacy is an important factor influencing self‐management. Patients with higher self‐efficacy have better self‐management and experience better quality of life. Self‐efficacy influences the long‐term medication‐taking behaviour of kidney transplant recipients. Method.  A longitudinal, correlational design was used. Data were collected during 2005–2006 with 150 adult kidney transplant recipients on self‐efficacy, self‐management and quality of life using a self‐efficacy scale, self‐management scale and the Medical Outcomes Scale SF‐36 (Chinese), respectively. Relationships among variables were analysed by path analysis. Results.  Participants with higher self‐efficacy scored significantly higher on the problem‐solving (β = 0·51), patient–provider partnership (β = 0·44) and self‐care behaviour (β = 0·55) dimensions of self‐management. Self‐efficacy directly influenced self‐care behaviour and indirectly affected the mental health component of quality of life (total effect = 0·14). Problem‐solving and partnership did not statistically significantly affect quality of life. Neither self‐efficacy nor self‐management had any effect on the physical health component of quality of life. Conclusion.  Transplant care teams should incorporate strategies that enhance self‐efficacy, as proposed by social cognitive theory, into their care programmes for kidney transplant recipients. Interventions to maintain and improve patients’ self‐care behaviour should continue to be emphasized and facilitated. Support to enhance patients’ problem‐solving skills and the partnership of patients with health professionals is needed.