Determination of the Effect of an Individualized Education Program on Developing Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Preventing Postoperative Metabolic Problems in Patients Receiving a Kidney Transplant: A Randomized Controlled Study

Kidney transplantation is the most effective way to reduce high morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. This success has been further enhanced by improvements in immunosuppressive therapy, surgical techniques, and medical care. However, kidney transplantation does not completely reverse the years of decreased renal function and damage caused by dialysis. In addition, new irritants (especially immunosuppressives) added in the post-transplant period can cause problems such as weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetes, hypertension, and lipid disorders. Unhealthy lifestyle habits can increase the risk of medical complications in dialysis and transplant patients. On the other hand, the presence of these complications reduces graft efficiency in patients and increases cardiovascular risk. Post-transplant care requires the involvement of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals who must work collaboratively with the patient, the patient's family, and healthcare providers. The outcomes of kidney transplantation are significantly affected by the kidney recipient's ability to adhere to a complex and ongoing self-management regimen. Nurses play an important role in developing the patient's self-efficacy and transforming him/her from a dependent person to a self-sufficient person. The American Nurses Association defines the role of the nurse in health development as "the nurse is responsible for ensuring that individuals and groups adapt to actual and potential health problems, assessing the environment that affects the individual's health, and implementing health-promoting nursing interventions." In this context, the transplant nurse should determine the patient's developmental needs and help him/her acquire healthy lifestyle behaviors, activities of daily living, and preventive practices for self-care. The patient's acquisition of healthy lifestyle behaviors after transplantation should be a part of clinical management. Our literature review showed that studies on this subject are insufficient.

The aim of kidney transplantation is not only to reduce the cost of care while improving kidney function, but also to extend the patient's life, improve the quality of life, and provide a healthy lifestyle and life satisfaction. Considering this information, this study was conducted to determine the effect of an individualized education program on improving healthy lifestyle behaviors and preventing cardiometabolic problems after surgery in kidney transplant patients.