Factors Influencing Self-Management Behaviors Among Patients with Post-Kidney Transplantation: A Qualitative Study of the Chronic Phase Transition

• Published in: Healthcare (Basel) 2024-11, Vol.12 (22), p.2264
• Main Authors: Matsumura, Naoko, Mizukawa, Mariko, Sato, Kanae, Hashino, Asuka, Kazawa, Kana, Naka, Makiko, Huq, K A T M Ehsanul, Moriyama, Michiko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Blood pressure; Chronic illnesses; Clinics; Complications; Content analysis; Data collection; Donation of organs, tissues, etc; Health attitudes; Immunosuppressive agents; Interviews; Kidney diseases; Kidney transplants; Kidneys; Medical research; Mortality; Nursing; Organ transplant recipients; Phase transitions; Qualitative research; Quality of life; Self-care, Health; Surgery; Surveys; Transplantation
• ISSN: 2227-9032; 2227-9032
• DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12222264

Kidney transplantation is an effective treatment for patients with kidney failure. Despite the advances in technology, a certain number of patients still deteriorate due to improper management. The purpose of this study was to identify the promoting and inhibitory factors that influence recipients' self-management behaviors after a kidney transplant. We enrolled participants who had kidney transplants for more than one year, aged ≥20 years from outpatient clinics in Japan. Face-to-face interviews were conducted between April and December 2016. Nine participants were included in this study. By qualitative content analysis, 115 codes and 8 categories were extracted for the factors resulting in maintenance and the promotion of self-management behaviors; those were [attentiveness to changes in one's own body], [good partnership with medical care providers], [past painful experiences], [establishment of lifestyle habits], [autonomy to protect one's own body], [support from family and others], [gratitude for kidney donation], and [increased self-efficacy]. We also extracted three categories that inhibited self-management behavior: [fading threat of worsening disease], [shifting priorities], and [decreased motivation to control the disease]. The passage of time after transplant became a barrier to continue self-management. Providing knowledge about the importance of self-management can prevent the deterioration of kidney function over time after a transplant.