Assessment of anxiety, depression and self-care ability and affecting factors for patients underwent liver transplantation

Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the factors affecting the depression, anxiety and self-care capabilities of liver transplant recipients. Materials and Methods: Patients who ≥18 years and who underwent liver transplantation in Inonu University Liver Transplantation Institute were included in this descriptive and cross-sectional study. Sample size analysis showed that the minimum number of patients should be 301 (confidence level=95%, confidence interval =2.5, population=1382). Three hundred and twenty patients were interviewed and 316 patients that have answered the questionnaires accurately were analyzed. The dependent variables were Beck Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Sclae and Self-Care Agency Scale. The independent variables of the study were sociodemographic characteristics, biliary complications, liver cancer, suggestion of liver transplantation to other patients and the interval of out-patient clinic visits. Results: Self-care scores were lower (p=0.002) and anxiety scores were higher (p=0.004) in patients with biliary complications. On the other hand, in patients with liver cancer, self-care scores were lower (p=0.006), depression (p=0.003) and anxiety scores (p=0.009) were higher. In patients with a monthly income <3000 TL had higher depression (p<0.001) and anxiety scores (p=0.003). The patients who stated that they would not recommend liver transplantation to others had lower self-care scores (p=0.002), higher depression (p<0.001), higher state anxiety (p=0.02) and trait anxiety scores (p<0.001). Conclusions: Presence of biliary complications and liver cancer, low income level and monthly visits to the outpatient clinic are factors that are found to affect self-care capability, depression and anxiety.