Background: 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.
Methods: 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.
Results: 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].
Conclusions: 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.
Keywords: chronic kidney disease; kidney transplantation; renal transplantation; self-efficacy; self-management behavior.