ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study was performed to identify relationships among stress, hardiness, and the level of self-care in kidney transplant patients and use the results of this study as baseline data for developing self-care promotion programs. METHOD: Subjects were 41 patients who undergone a kidney transplantation surgery at least one month before and were receiving regular follow-up care via OPD. Four researchers interviewed each subjects by filling out questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean score of the level of stress was 2.32(SD=0.54) on a 4 point scale and the mean score of hardiness was 4.68(SD=0.62) on a 6 point scale. The mean score of self-care among the subjects was 3.83(SD=0.55). There was statistically a significant positive relationship between self-care and hardiness(r=0.42). Especially, relationships between self-care and commitment (r=.51) and control(r=.36) as the sub- dimensions of hardiness were significant. The item suggested as most stressful was economic burden and the item suggested as least stressful was sexual activity. CONCLUSION: Although transplant patients have various stressors, the positive self-care activities of the patients could be increased if the commitment and control were enhanced by proper intervention programs.