Effect of patient coping preferences on quality of life following renal transplantation.

AIM

This paper is a report of a study investigating the relationships between quality of life, patient coping preferences, and desire to be actively involved in care following renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND

While the general consensus is that quality of life is improved greatly by kidney transplantation, it is apparent that it is not uniformly a positive experience in this regard. There is a need to identify individual difference factors that influence quality of life following renal transplantation.

METHOD

A correlational study was conducted in the national referral centre for renal transplantation in the Republic of Ireland in 2006 with a sample of 172 transplant recipients. Data were collected using a questionnaire composed of standardized instruments to measure the key concepts.

RESULTS

Participants perceived that they had good quality of life, and used more problem-solving than avoidance coping strategies. Avoidance coping strategies were associated with statistically significantly lower quality of life following transplantation. Being younger, attaining a higher education level, being in employment and being married were associated with higher quality of life following transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Assessment of coping strategies among the transplant population should be further explored in clinical practice, and steps employed to promote the use of positive coping strategies in order to maximize quality of life after transplant.