Araştırma Makalesi

Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients

Cilt: 13 Sayı: 2 31 Temmuz 2026
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Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients

Öz

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), and is influenced by both traditional cardiovascular risk and transplant-specific factors. Health literacy and perceptions of exercise play a crucial role in effectively managing these risks. Therefore, this study aimed to compare health literacy, awareness of CVD risk factors, and perceptions of exercise-related benefits and barriers in KTRs and healthy individuals. Methods: Fifty-nine KTRs and 60 healthy control were included. Participants’ health literacy (Health Literacy Scale–Short Form), awareness of CVD risk factors (CVD Risk Factors Knowledge Level [CARRF-KL]), and perception of exercise (the Exercise Benefits/Barriers scale (EBBS)) were evaluated. Results: KTRs demonstrated significantly lower health literacy levels than healthy individuals (p<0.001), and this difference remained significant after adjustment for educational level. In unadjusted analyses, KTRs showed lower awareness of CVD risk factors, perceived exercise benefits, and total EBBS scores (p<0.05). When educational level was controlled for, there was no significant difference between the two groups in awareness of CVD risk factors, perceived exercise benefits, and total EBBS scores (p>0.05). Health literacy was positively correlated with perceived exercise benefits in KTRs (p=0.042). No significant difference was observed between groups in perceived exercise barriers (p>0.05). Conclusion: KTRs have lower health literacy levels compared with healthy individuals, regardless of educational attainment. The disparities in knowledge of CVD risk factors and perceptions of the benefits of exercise seem to be largely explained by educational differentials. These results emphasise the necessity for health literacy–aware educational approaches and personalised exercise guidance as key elements of post-transplant care to enhance self-management and decrease long-term cardiovascular risk.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Destekleyen Kurum

None.

Etik Beyan

This study was a cross-sectional study approved by the Hacettepe University Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee with protocol number SBA 23/275, dated 05.12.2023.

Teşekkür

None.

Kaynakça

  1. 1. Van der Zee S, Baber U, Elmariah S, et al. Cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2009;6:580-589.
  2. 2. Carmena R, Ascaso JF, Redon J. Chronic kidney disease as a cardiovascular risk factor. J Hypertens. 2020;38:2110-2121.
  3. 3. Robinson-Cohen C, Littman AJ, Duncan GE, et al. Assessment of physical activity in chronic kidney disease. J Ren Nutr. 2013;23:123-131.
  4. 4. Zelle DM, Klaassen G, van Adrichem E, et al. Physical inactivity: a risk factor and target for intervention in renal care. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2017;13:152-168.
  5. 5. Taylor DM, Fraser SDS, Bradley JA, et al. ATTOM investigators. A Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Associations of Limited Health Literacy in CKD. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2017;12:1070-1084.
  6. 6. Green JA, Mor MK, Shields AM, et al. Associations of health literacy with dialysis adherence and health resource utilization in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2013;62:73-80.
  7. 7. Ricardo AC, Yang W, Lora CM, et al. CRIC Investigators. Limited health literacy is associated with low glomerular filtration in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study. Clin Nephrol. 2014;81:30-37.
  8. 8. Gordon EJ, Wolf MS. Health literacy skills of kidney transplant recipients. Prog Transplant. 2009;19:25-34.

Ayrıntılar

Birincil Dil

İngilizce

Konular

Fizyoterapi

Bölüm

Araştırma Makalesi

Yayımlanma Tarihi

31 Temmuz 2026

Gönderilme Tarihi

17 Şubat 2026

Kabul Tarihi

6 Mayıs 2026

Yayımlandığı Sayı

Yıl 2026 Cilt: 13 Sayı: 2

Kaynak Göster

APA
Fırat, M., Erdut, A., Sağlam, M., Yıldırım, T., & Vardar Yaglı, N. (2026). Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation, 13(2), 152-160. https://doi.org/10.15437/jetr.1887890
AMA
1.Fırat M, Erdut A, Sağlam M, Yıldırım T, Vardar Yaglı N. Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. JETR. 2026;13(2):152-160. doi:10.15437/jetr.1887890
Chicago
Fırat, Merve, Arda Erdut, Melda Sağlam, Tolga Yıldırım, ve Naciye Vardar Yaglı. 2026. “Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients”. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation 13 (2): 152-60. https://doi.org/10.15437/jetr.1887890.
EndNote
Fırat M, Erdut A, Sağlam M, Yıldırım T, Vardar Yaglı N (01 Temmuz 2026) Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation 13 2 152–160.
IEEE
[1]M. Fırat, A. Erdut, M. Sağlam, T. Yıldırım, ve N. Vardar Yaglı, “Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients”, JETR, c. 13, sy 2, ss. 152–160, Tem. 2026, doi: 10.15437/jetr.1887890.
ISNAD
Fırat, Merve - Erdut, Arda - Sağlam, Melda - Yıldırım, Tolga - Vardar Yaglı, Naciye. “Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients”. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation 13/2 (01 Temmuz 2026): 152-160. https://doi.org/10.15437/jetr.1887890.
JAMA
1.Fırat M, Erdut A, Sağlam M, Yıldırım T, Vardar Yaglı N. Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. JETR. 2026;13:152–160.
MLA
Fırat, Merve, vd. “Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients”. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation, c. 13, sy 2, Temmuz 2026, ss. 152-60, doi:10.15437/jetr.1887890.
Vancouver
1.Merve Fırat, Arda Erdut, Melda Sağlam, Tolga Yıldırım, Naciye Vardar Yaglı. Health literacy and awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. JETR. 01 Temmuz 2026;13(2):152-60. doi:10.15437/jetr.1887890