Evaluation of Compliance with Immunosuppressive Treatment and Symptom Occurrence in Patients with Kidney Transplantation

Authors : Mustafa Arslan, Bahar Inkaya

Pages : 18-29

Doi:10.47565/ndthdt.2024.79

View : 92 | Download : 55

Publication Date : 2024-01-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aims: This research, a descriptive and relational study, aims to determine kidney transplant patients\' adherence with immunosuppressive therapy, their symptom occurrence, and the relationship between these factors. Methods: We used the Patient Introduction Form, Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence Scale, and Modified Transplant Symptom Occurrence and Distress Form-58 in our study. The population for the study consisted of 125 individuals with kidney transplantation who attended the Nephrology Outpatient Clinic of a hospital in Ankara between January and April 2023 for treatment, follow-up or care. Data were evaluated using frequency analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, Bonferroni correction, and Spearman correlation coefficient. Results: Increased scores on the immunosuppressive drug use adherence scale correlated with decreases in symptom occurrence and distress. A statistically significant difference was found in symptom distress scores according to gender (Z=-2.491; p=0.013), with women exhibiting significantly higher scores than men. Statistically significant differences were also detected in terms of symptom occurrence scores (Z = -2.425; p = 0.015) and symptom distress scores (Z = -2.415; p = 0.016) according to comorbidity. Additionally, a statistically significant difference was found in symptom occurrence scores according to additional disease status (Z=-2.425; p=0.015), and in symptom distress scores according to additional disease status (Z=-2.415; p=0.016). A statistically significant difference was found in terms of symptom occurrence scores according to donor type (Z=-1.983; p=0.047). The most common symptoms in the study were feeling tired, mood swings and tremors in the hands. The most distressing symptoms were mood swings, restlessness or nervousness, and feeling tired. Conclusion: A negative, weak, and statistically significant relationship was observed between the immunosuppressive drug use adherence scale scores with symptom occurrence and symptom distress (p<0.05).
Keywords : Böbrek transplantasyonu, Hemşirelik, İmmunsupresif tedavi, Semptom sıkıntısı, Tedaviye uyum