The effect of illness perception levels of liver transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy on their rational drug use levels

OBJECTIVE: Since 50% of drug use all over the world is used other than rational drug use, rational drug use, which is associated with the perception of the disease, is important for the course of the disease. This study aimed to determine the effect of disease perception levels on rational drug use in liver transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with patients who came to the outpatient clinic for control between May–September 2022 with the participation of patients who underwent liver transplantation and followed up in a liver transplant institute in eastern Turkey. In the collection of the study data, “sociodemographic information form” prepared by the researchers, “Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire”, and “Rational Drug Use Scale” were employed. RESULTS: In this study conducted with 206 patients, the mean age of patients with liver transplantation was 48.66 ± 9.4 years, 59.7% were male, 80.1% were married, and 33.5% were high school graduates. It was determined that the disease perception levels and rational drug use levels of the patients who underwent liver transplantation were moderate. It was also determined that as the education levels of the liver transplant patients increased, their levels of illness perception and rational drug use also statistically significantly increased (p < 0.05). It was found that there was a significant and moderate relationship between illness perception and rational drug use, and that as their level of illness perception increased, their level of rational drug use also increased (r:0.622, p < 0.05). It was observed that the disease perception level explained 38.7% of the change in rational drug use (R(2):387, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the study, it was observed that high illness perception levels of liver transplant patients increased their levels of rational drug use. It is important to raise the awareness of patients in order for them to cope with illnesses and to have a high level of illness perception.