title: Role of "self-efficacy" in the process of long-term care in kidney transplant recipients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Formative Science, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy. Electronic address: depasqua@unict.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.affiliation: Department of Formative Science, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pistorio
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinagra
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giaquinta
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zerbo
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veroux
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Advanced Technologies, University Hospital of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veroux
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D020377:Self Efficacy; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*