Determining the problems experienced by kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic period

This study was carried out to identify the problems experienced by kidney transplant patients during the Covid-19 pandemic and to offer solutions for the following periods. The population of this descriptive qualitative study consists of 55 kidney transplant patients who were followed up at the Health Sciences University Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Training and Research Hospital at the time of application. The study was carried out by creating a sample with 15 patients who accepted the study. The data were collected by interviewing each patient for approximately 20-30 minutes with a Patient Data Form consisting of 11 questions and a Semi-Structured Interview Question Form consisting of 5 questions between February 2022 and May 2022, and recording them on a voice recorder using semi-structured interview technique. Of the 15 kidney transplant patients who participated in the study, 66.66% were female and 33.33% were male. 73.33% of the patients were transplanted before the pandemic period, and 26.66% of them were transplanted during the pandemic period. All of the patients experienced social isolation during the pandemic period. It was concluded that the fear of rejection, which existed before the pandemic period, increased with the pandemic period. It was concluded that the people participating in the study had difficulty in adapting to the changing living conditions during the pandemic period and could not perform healthy living activities. As a result of this research, the problems experienced by kidney transplant patients in the Covid-19 pandemic were determined. In line with the results obtained, solution suggestions have been developed to minimize the difficulties faced by solid organ transplant recipients, especially kidney transplant patients, in the next pandemic periods or similar situations. During the pandemic period, results were obtained that will contribute to the training and care plans of nurses. Keywords: Kidney Transplant, Covid-19, Pandemic