NIV Congres

Introduction Previous research showed that almost 60% of the patients are re-hospitalized within the first year after kidney transplantation. The extent to which patients understand health advice and can identify symptoms and act accordingly, are factors that may contribute to complications after transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between health literacy (HL), self-management (SM), patient characteristics and socio-economic characteristics among a cohort of kidney transplant patients.

Methods From May 2012 to November 2012, we invited patients who were recently transplanted to participate. Inclusion criteria were reading and understanding the Dutch language and age > 18. We measured SM using an adapted version of the Partners in health scale (PIH, 24 items) and HL using the Dutch Newest vital sign (NVSD, 6 items). Other data (socioeconomic status, work, donor type, medical data, and ethnicity) were collected from the medical status.

Results Of the 99 potential participants, 80 (80%) were included. Socio demographic data: 65% male, mean age 55, 74% living donor recipients, and 24% of Non-European descent. Patients who scored statistically significantly lower on HL were of Non-European descent, were not transplanted

pre-emptively, and were retired. Also, a significant negative correlation was found between HL and age. No statistically significant associations were found between SM and socio-demographic and patient characteristics. There was a significant positive correlation between HL and 3 subscales of SM: emotional social aspects, knowledge and aftercare, and physical care.

Conclusions We identified a number of subgroups among kidney transplant patients who appear to have a lower HL: older patients, retired patients and Non-European patients. In turn, lower HL was related to poorer coping with emotional and social consequences, poorer monitoring of physical care and lower perceived knowledge and aftercare after kidney transplantation.