Evaluation of Covid-19 risk perception and psychological status of transplant patients

Abstract Background Liver transplant patients are in the more at-risk group in terms of COVID-19 infection and mortality due to both immunosuppressive treatment and underlying chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the COVID-19 risk perception, compliance with preventive measures, and psychosocial status of liver transplant patients. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional survey study included 311 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2002 -2021 and presented to the outpatient clinic for routine controls. Data were collected via a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire form used to collect the data of the study included a demographic and clinical characteristics form, the Short Depression-Happiness Scale, the COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines Compliance Scale, and the COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale. The Mann-Whitney U, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis were used in statistical analyses. Results The median age of the transplant patients who participated in the study was 56 (18-76) years. Of the transplant patients, 84.9% stated that they had COVID-19 vaccination. There was a statistically significant, very weak relationship between the scores of the Brief Depression-Happiness Scale and the COVID-19 Compliance with Preventive Measures Scale (r = 0.132; p = 0.02), and a weak, significant relationship in the same direction between the scores of the COVID-19 Compliance with Preventive Measures Scale and the COVID-19 Risk Perception Scale (r = 0.344; p = 0.001). Conclusions The vaccination rates of the patients were high. As the depression status of the patients decreases, their compliance with preventive measures increases, and as their compliance with preventive measures increases, their risk perception increases. Key messages • Since transplant patients are a vulnerable group, their vaccination status is important in terms of mortality risk. • Psychological factors such as depression-happiness scores influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among transplant patients.