title: Physical Symptoms and Associated Factors in Chinese Renal Transplant Recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate physical symptoms in renal transplant recipients as well as the correlation between self-efficacy and symptom distress.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 274 consecutive renal transplant recipients were enrolled using a convenience sampling method. The basic characteristics of renal transplant recipients were collected using a general situation questionnaire. Physical symptom distress and self-efficacy were assessed by the Kidney Transplant Questionnaire and the Perceived Health Competence Scale, respectively. Correlations between self-efficacy and symptom distress were analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 274 patients, 254 (92.7%) reported physical symptoms. Forgetfulness (29.56%), fatigue (28.1%), and tremor (27.37%) were the most frequent symptoms. The median score for the distress caused by physical symptoms was 5.33 (interquartile range, 4.29-6.33), suggesting that the perceived physical symptoms did not cause serious distress to patients overall. Uncertainty/fear was the most important factor affecting the quality of the life, whereas appearance seemed to be the factor that contributed least to a poor quality of life. The median self-efficacy of the participants was 27.0 (interquartile range, 24.0-30.0), suggesting a relatively high self-efficacy among kidney transplant recipients. There was a positive correlation between self-efficacy and symptom distress scores (rs= 0.33; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients are encouraged to enhance their self-efficacy with help and support from family and communities to reduce the level of distress and improve their quality of life.
authors: Nursing Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan City, Hebei, China.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Wei
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Guan
authors: Nursing Department, The China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Nursing Department, The China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Emergency Department, Yixian People's Hospital, Baoding City, Hebei, China.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Shi
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China.
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Xiao
authors: Institute of Organ Transplantation, The General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China. Electronic address: niuyujian@aliyun.com.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Niu
authors: Organ Transplant Institution, The 309th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China. Electronic address: 13911723403@163.com.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D066027:Transplant Recipients / Q000523:psychology*