Abstract:

Aim: Physical and mental problems experienced in transplantations have negative effects on an individual's biological, psychological and social life. These transplantations often push transplant patients into hopefulness. This research was conducted with the aim of identifying the association between levels of social support and hopefulness in patients with liver transplants. Material and Methods: This descriptive-type research was conducted at two different University Hospitals' Organ Transplant Services between January 2020-June 2021. The overall population of the research is all liver transplant patients of these centers. The sampling quantity for the research was identified as 165 patients as a result of a power analysis. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews with patients who had undergone liver transplants. The research data were collected using the Personal information form, Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MPSS), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS). Results: The multidimensional perceived social support scale score averages of patients participating in the study were found to be 62.79±17.39, which is a social support scale score above medium value. The hopefulness average was found as 8.53±3.42. This is a moderate level of hopelessness score. It was determined that there is a significant negative correlation between social support and hopefulness (r=-0.437 p=0.001). Conclusion: Patients' levels of hopefulness were found to decrease as their social support scores increased. Reducing levels of hopefulness can be achieved by increasing the social support that transplant patients receive.

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