J Korean Acad Adult Nurs.  1999 Jun;11(2):215-226.

A Study on Stress and the Quality of Life of Kidney Transplant Recipients

• Cho YS

Abstract

This descriptive, correlational study was carried out in order to a) investigate the perceived stress and quality of life, b) to identify the relationship between the stress and quality of life of recipients who have undergone kidney transplantation and c) to provide data for their care in clinical situations. The subjects in this study were 156 kidney transplant recipients who received regular follow up in the Out Patient departments of 9 university hospitals in Seoul and the Provinces. The data were collected during the period from June 2 to August 31, 1998. The instruments used for this study were as follows: The Stress instrument used in this study was a stress questionnaire in which I modified the instrument developed by Hayward(1989), KTRSS(Kidney Transplant Recipient Stress Scale) and used by Fallen(1997). The instrument to measure the Quality of Life in this study was the 'Quality of Life Scale developed by Ro You Ja The data was analyzed by the SPSS program using descriptive statistics & Pearson's correlation coefficient. The results were as follows 1. The range of stress the scores of the subjects was from 62 to 163. The mean score was 115(SD=20.609). Perceived stress revealed the mean, 3.05(SD=0.552) ranged from 4.288 to 1.660 Among 38 items, the highest mean in the rank-order was "Taking medications for the rest of their lives"(M=4.288, SD=0.908). The next four stressors in the rank-order were "Fear of injury to the new kideney, Fear of rejection, Cost of medication, Uncertainty about the future".The item with the lowest(M = 1.660,SD=o.853) was "Non-reliance on nursing staff". The next was "Non-reliance on medical staff". 2. The range of Quality of Life scores of the subjects was from 83 to 200. The mean score was 151.237 (SD= 22.296) For each factor on the Quality of Life scale, the mean scores in the rank-order were as followed: Family relationship : 3.518(SD=0717), Self-esteem 3.550(SD=0.760), Relationship with neighbors : 3.430(SD=O.522), Physical state and function : 3.290(SD=0.549), Emotional state 3. 199(SD=0.663) 3. The relationship between stress and the Quality of life revealed a significant negative correlation (r=-0.430, p= .000). The relationship between stress and other factors in the Quality of Life scale showed a negative correlation, as follows: Stress and emotional state : r=-0.432, p=.000, Physical state and function : r=-0.403, p=.000, Economical state : r= -0.330, p=.000, Relationship with neighbors : r= -0.290, p=.000, Self esteem: r = -0.205, p = .010, Family relationship :r=-0.264, p=.001 In conclusion, This study revealed that the perceived stress and Quality of life of Kidney Transplant recipients have significant correlation. The results of this study might help Nurses and other health care workers to consult effectively, to educate, to give pre operational information, to prepare education for the period following the discharge, and to develop interventions for self-care reinforcement.

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Education
Family Relations
Follow-Up Studies
Hospitals, University
Humans
Kidney Transplantation
Kidney*
Nursing
Quality of Life*
Self Care
Self Concept
Seoul
Transplantation*
Uncertainty
Surveys and Questionnaires