title: Factors determining social function of patients after renal transplantation in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients who are no longer in need of dialysis as a consequence save time and reduce stress every day. Social function was an important issue in patients with successful renal transplantation. According Bandura's social cognitive theory, ones' behavior is affected by social context and affective factors continuously. The quality of social function needs further investigation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to describe the degree of social function after renal transplantation and to explore its predictive factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional and descriptive study design was conducted in the outpatient department of a medical center in northern Taiwan from July to October 2010. The recipients were a convenience sample of 101 participants who had undergone renal transplantation. Hierarchical multivariate regression analysis was used to explore the predictive factors related to social function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that renal transplant recipients have moderate to high social function. Regression analyses showed that psychological factors (perceived stress, stress after renal transplantation, and depressive symptoms) and social participation (paid-work and leisure activity) explained 37.1% of the total variance for social function. Depressive symptoms explained most of the total variance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After renal transplantation, patients experienced higher levels of social function. Perceived stress, stress after renal transplantation, depressive symptoms, paid-work, and leisure activity were the predictive factors of social function. Managing levels of depressive symptoms is highly recommended to elevate the patient's social function.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: ax2488@mail.cgu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: L-C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Center & Urology Surgery, Chang Gung Medical Foundation-Linkuo Medical Center, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: H-F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012919:Social Behavior; D013624:Taiwan; D055815:Young Adult