Predictors of Self-Management among Kidney Transplant Recipients

Purpose: Self-management among kidney transplant recipients is a key factor in long-term survival. The present study aims to determine the predictors of self-management among kidney transplant recipients in Iran. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 360 kidney transplant recipients who were selected from six transplantation clinics affiliated to six major universities of medical sciences in Iran. The data were collected using a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire and the Persian version of the 24-item Self-Management Scale for Kidney Transplant Recipients. Result: The mean score of the participants’ self-management was 62.39±8.04. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of self-management among kidney transplant recipients were age (B = -0.319), gender (B = -1.70), pre-transplantation dialysis duration (B = 0.256), dialysis type (B = 3.060), duration after transplantation (B = 0.08), and marital status (B = 4.44) (model R2 = 0.444). Conclusion: This study showed that kidney transplant recipients in Iran have a moderate self-management status. The significant predictors of their self-management were age, gender, marital status, pre-transplantation dialysis type and duration, and the length of time passed after transplantation. The findings of this study provide a basis for developing interventions to improve self-management among kidney transplant recipients.