Quality of Life, Adherence Behavior, and Social Support Among Renal Transplant Recipients in China: A Descriptive Correlational Study

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2018-12, Vol.50 (10), p.3329-3337
• Main Authors: Zhao, S.M., Dong, F.F., Qiu, H.Z., Li, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; China; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Kidney Transplantation - psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance - psychology; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Quality of Life - psychology; Social Support; Surveys and Questionnaires; Transplant Recipients - psychology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2018.05.026

Quality of life (QoL) is an important indicator for evaluating therapeutic outcomes and mortality in renal transplant recipients, but there is scarce information regarding QoL, adherence behavior, social support and their relationships. This study assessed these factors among renal transplant recipients. Using a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design, this study included a convenience sample of 253 kidney transplant recipients. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The scores on QoL domains (except the social functioning domain [P = .909]) were lower in our recipients than in the general Chinese population norm (P = .0000001). Time since transplantation (P = .041) and education (P = .013) were factors affecting QoL scores. The mean total adherence behavior score was 60.64 ± 7.71. Occupation and time since transplantation affected the total adherence behavior score. There was an alarming percentage of nonadherence in our transplant recipients (27.5%-72.3%). The mean total social support score was 40.76 ± 9.51. The total social support score (P = .0000087) was lower than the general Chinese population norm. Occupation (P = .0000087) education (P = .010), marital status (P = .013), payment method (P = .028) and monthly income (P = .007) affected the total social support score; there were significant relationships between physical health, psychological health, adherence behavior (r = .145, P = .022; r = .153, P = .016), and social support (r = .211, P = .001; r = .301, P = .000). The findings demonstrate somewhat deficient QoL among renal transplant recipients compared with the general population. Social support, adherence behavior, time since transplantation and education significantly influenced QoL for our recipients, and social support had the most significant influence on adherence behavior and QoL. •Social support, adherence behavior, time since transplantation, and education significantly influenced QoL for renal transplant.•Social support also influenced adherence behavior; and strong positive relationships were found among most of the QoL domains, adherence behavior, and level of social support.•Social support was the most significant factor that influenced adherence behavior and QoL, especially the psychological health in renal transplant recipients.