The Effects of the Self Efficacy Promotion and Exercise Training Program on Anxiety, Depression and Quality of Life of Kidney Transplant Recipients

Ahn, Jae Hyun

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the Self Efficacy Promotion and Exercise Training Program to decrease anxiety and depression and to increase the quality of life for kidney transplant recipients. The subjects were selected randomly among the patients who underwent renal transplant at three major transplantation hospitals in Seoul, Korea. The observed subjects in this study consisted of 56 patients who had renal transplantations between one to twelve months prior to this study. The patients did not take any regular physical exercise. This study was carried out between November, 1999 and March, 2000. The study groups were divided into 3 groups; exercise training group (n=16), self efficacy group (n=18) and control group (n=22). The exercise training group received self efficacy promotion and exercise training program for 12 weeks. The self efficacy group received self efficacy promotion education, but no exercise training was given. The control group was not offered any education. The anxiety, depression and quality of life were evaluated 3 times, before the experiment, after 8 weeks and after 12 weeks. The data were analyzed with mean, standard deviation, Chi-square test, ANOVA and Scheff test. The results were as follows: 1. After the experiment, anxiety and depression scores of the exercise training group and self efficacy group were more significantly decreased than those of the control group (p=.05). 2. After the experiment, the quality of life score of the exercise training group and self efficacy group were more significantly increased than those of the control group (p=.05). This study showed that the Self Efficacy and Exercise Training Programs were effective. Therefore, it is expected that the Self Efficacy Promotion and Exercise Training Program could be widely applied as an effective independent nursing intervention to decrease anxiety and depression and to increase quality of life for kidney transplant recipients.