Role of Self-Efficacy in the Process of Long-Term Care in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Objective. This study investigated the relationship between self-efficacy, quality of life, and psychic dimensions of patients with kidney transplants. Given the considerable emotional implications and the risk of psychopathology after transplantation, a protective role is assumed of the sense of self-efficacy, both from any psychopathologic disorders and from a precarious quality of life. Methods. One hundred twenty recipients of kidney transplants from deceased donors were included in the study. The self-efficacy study was performed with the use of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. The quality of life of the subjects was studied with the use of the Short-Form Health Survey; The psychic symptoms of patients were performed using the Revised Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90R). Results. Self-efficacy is positively correlated with both physical role limitations and mental health. With increasing self-efficacy there was a decrease of psychic symptoms as investigated with the use of the SCL-90R test. Conclusions. This study demonstrated the protective function of the sense of self-efficacy in the psychic sphere and its positive effect on quality of life, in the sense that an appropriate problem-solving strategy helps the transplant patient to maintain good mental and physical health.