The goal of this observational study is to learn about the current status of illness perception and the distribution of coping styles in kidney transplant recipients. The main question clarifies the current status and experience of illness perception in post-transplant patients with different coping styles, and aims to provide a reference basis for intervention of illness perception in kidney transplant patients, with the aim of improving their current status of illness perception, optimizing their awareness of treatment management and self-care behaviors, and perfecting the modern medical service system. Participants will describe the main tasks participants will be asked to do.

Aims:This study explores the current status of illness perception and the distribution of coping styles in kidney transplant recipients, clarifies the current status and experience of illness perception in post-transplant patients with different coping styles, and aims to provide a reference basis for intervention of illness perception in kidney transplant patients, with the aim of improving their current status of illness perception, optimizing their awareness of treatment management and self-care behaviors, and perfecting the modern medical service system.Methods:This study is based on the Common Sense Model (CSM), which is the most widely used theory for explaining and predicting disease adaptation and patient self-management behaviors.This study utilizes a mixed-methods research design, specifically the interpretive sequence design, consisting of two phases. The first phase is a quantitative study that employs a questionnaire to investigate the current state of illness perception and the distribution of coping styles in kidney transplant recipients, and to explore the differences in illness perception between positive coping and negative coping patients after kidney transplantation; The second phase involves a descriptive qualitative study that utilizes face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews to investigate the causes of differences in illness perceptions of different coping styles in kidney transplant recipients who experience idiosyncrasies.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients between the ages of 18 and 55 who have received a kidney transplant and have been discharged from the hospital for at least 3 months. Patients must have basic communication skills and be willing to participate in the survey voluntarily by signing the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

(i) Patients with a history of other malignant tumors; (ii) patients who are participating in other clinical trials or related treatments; (iii) patients with other serious physical diseases; and (iv) kidney transplant patients with psychiatric disorders, serious cognitive impairment, or speech defects that prevent them from cooperating.

Recipients who underwent kidney transplantation at a tertiary hospital in Zunyi between January 01, 2024 and December 2024 were selected for the study using a convenience sampling method.