A Study on Stress, Hardiness, and Self-care in Kidney Transplant Patients

신장이식환자의 스트레스, 강인성, 자가간호에 대한 연구

Purpose: This study was performed to identify relationships among stress, hardiness, and the level of self-care in kidney transplant patients and use the results of this study as baseline data for developing self-care promotion programs. Method: Subjects were 41 patients who undergone a kidney transplantation surgery at least one month before and were receiving regular follow-up care via OPD. Four researchers interviewed each subjects by filling out questionnaires. Results: The mean score of the level of stress was 2.32(SD=0.54) on a 4 point scale and the mean score of hardiness was 4.68(SD=0.62) on a 6 point scale. The mean score of self-care among the subjects was 3.83(SD=0.55). There was statistically a significant positive relationship between selfcare and hardiness(r=0.42). Especially, relationships between self-care and commitment (r=.51) and control(r=.36) as the subdimensions of hardiness were significant. The item suggested as most stressful was economic burden and the item suggested as least stressful was sexual activity. Conclusion: Although transplant patients have various stressors, the positive self-care activities of the patients could be increased if the commitment and control were enhanced by proper intervention programs.