Page 35 - Exploring the Potential of Self-Monitoring Kidney Function After Transplantation - Céline van Lint

Patient experiences with self-monitoring after transplantation 33
Figure 2. Percentage adherence to measurement frequency per protocol.
* Measurement frequency: week 1-3 daily; week 4-6 every other day; week 7-9 twice a week; week 10-12 weekly.
DISCUSSION
Patient self-monitoring after kidney transplantation could possibly alleviate the burden of frequent outpatient visits and high levels of stress prior to consultations. The feasibility of self-monitoring, however, is highly dependent on the willingness and ability of kidney transplant patients to monitor at home. The current results showed that patients were highly motivated to self-monitor kidney function and reported high levels of general satisfaction. The use of both the creatinine and blood pressure meter was considered pleasant and useful, despite level of trust in the accuracy of the creatinine device being relatively low. Trust in the accuracy of the creatinine device appeared to be related to level of variation in subsequent measurement results, with more variation accompanying lower levels of trust. Average adherence to the monitoring protocol was good, but large individual differences between patients were found that increased over time.
Our results indicate that self-monitoring may be highly attractive to transplanted patients. Especially in the first six months after transplantation, when a relative high risk of rejection2 necessitates high frequent monitoring, self-monitoring may provide both additional reassurance to patients about how their graft is functioning and a potential measure to diminish number of outpatient appointments. The experience of an extra sense of security, reassurance and control has been reported in other self- monitoring studies.14-17 Our high response rate (32 out of 34 willing to participate) further suggests
2