BackgroundKidney transplant recipients require lifelong self-management and follow-up care to maintain allograft function. Mobile health (mHealth) effectively improves self-management behaviors and clinical indicators, consequently enhancing nursing care quality. However, these apps commonly face challenges, including low adoption rates and high discontinuation. Although researchers have explored associated facilitators and barriers from various perspectives, a systematic review of these influencing factors is lacking. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to systematically review the influencing factors of mHealth apps in kidney transplant care and to provide evidence for developing targeted interventions. MethodsThe systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, CRD420251091361). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, MEDLINE, and Chinese databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and SinoMed, were searched from inception to March 2025. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment given its suitability for appraising diverse study designs. Influencing factors were identified and coded according to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research due to its utility in systematically identifying multilevel implementation factors. ResultsA total of 19 studies (all English-language publications) were included, comprising 9 qualitative studies, 5 mixed methods studies, and 5 quantitative studies, involving 1265 kidney transplant recipients and 34 health care providers. A total of 16 facilitators and 14 barriers were identified and categorized into 5 domains: intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and process. ConclusionsThe use of mHealth apps in kidney transplant care is influenced by multidimensional factors, with intervention characteristics constituting the most prominent domain, while the outer setting and process domains are relatively underrepresented. Future research should investigate these influencing factors and implement multidimensional strategies to optimize mHealth apps in kidney transplant care.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a machine learning model for the diagnosis of chronic renal failure (CRF) with spleen-kidney qi deficiency (SKQD) syndrome by investigating facial chromatic biomarkers based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed TCM-defined facial regions in 303 patients with CRF (166 SKQD and 137 non-SKQD) and 25 healthy controls using active appearance models and RGB/Lab color spaces. Key chromatic features were selected using Chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision trees to construct a multibranch deep convolutional neural network (CNN), nomogram, and hybrid model. The model performances were compared using the DeLong test.Results: The SKQD group showed a higher glomerular filtration rate, albumin level, and facial R-value with a lower serum creatinine level (all P < 0.05), accompanied by a higher prevalence of shortness of breath with reluctance to speak, and cold extremities (P < 0.05) compared with the non-SKQD group. Chromatic analysis revealed elevated R/a values in the kidney region using the natural facial color region method (P < 0.05), and distinctively higher R-values in the bladder-uterus region and a-values in the right small intestine region using the Mingtang facial color region method (P < 0.05). The CHAID algorithm selected four diagnostic determinants, including the overall facial R-values. The CNN achieved superior discriminative performance (test area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.74 vs. nomogram 0.68, DeLong test P < 0.001) with no added benefit from model integration (P > 0.05).Conclusions: Facial chromatic biomarkers effectively differentiated SKQD in patients with CRF when analyzed using TCM-defined regions. The superior performance of the CNN validates AI-driven TCM diagnostics as a clinically actionable tool for precise syndrome classification.

IntroductionPrediction models for cognitive impairment offer significant advantages in public health preventive strategies in high-risk chronic kidney disease populations, but their methodological quality and applicability remain unclear. The aims of this study were to systematically review and critically appraise the existing prediction models for cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease.MethodsPubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, SinoMed, and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched from inception to 12 October 2025. The prediction model risk of bias assessment tool was used for quality assessment, and the checklist for critical appraisal and data extraction for systematic reviews of prediction modeling studies was used for data extraction. A narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the characteristics, performance, and risk of bias of existing models. Subgroup analyses were performed stratified by outcome definitions, CKD population, and cognitive assessment tools.ResultsA total of 5,972 studies were identified, ultimately including 17 models for three outcomes: cognitive impairment (52.9%), mild cognitive impairment (11.8%), and cognitive frailty (35.3%). The reported prevalence ranged from 12.8 to 77.9% for cognitive impairment, around 50% for mild cognitive impairment, and 14.2–25.8% for cognitive frailty. Most models (58.8%) were developed in hemodialysis populations. Fifteen studies were internally validated, and 7 were externally validated. For internal validation, the AUC of cognitive impairment models ranged from 0.745 to 0.918, mild cognitive impairment models from 0.926 to 0.928, and cognitive frailty models from 0.842 to 0.945. For external validation, the AUC of cognitive impairment models ranged from 0.752 to 0.899, the mild cognitive impairment model was 0.897, and cognitive frailty models ranged from 0.832 to 0.904. All studies were rated as high risk of bias, mainly due to methodological problems in the analysis domain, with great concerns regarding applicability in 13 studies.ConclusionCurrent research on prediction models for cognitive impairment in chronic kidney disease remains in the developing stage, with heterogeneous outcome definitions and all studies at high risk of bias. Most studies are limited by methodological shortcomings.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251007577, Identifier CRD420251007577.

Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is a key concern influenced by physiological, social, and cultural factors. However, yet commonly used assessment tools in previous studies do not adequately capture the unique sociocultural context of Chinese populations. The objective of this study was to assess the HRQoL in KTRs using the CQ-11D questionnaire and analyze factors associated with HRQoL to enhance the HRQoL of KTRs. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study. Data were collected from two tertiary hospitals in Beijing and Changsha, China. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The CQ-11D was used to measure HRQoL. Other scales, including the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), were used to assess TCM constitution, psychological distress, and sleep quality, respectively. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 26.0, including bivariate analysis, generalized linear models, and multiple regression analysis. Results A total of 215 KTRs were enrolled. The median CQ-11D health utility value was 0.918. There were differences across the 11 dimensions of the CQ-11D in KTRs. After the age of 40, the proportion of reported problems generally increased with age. This trend was particularly evident in dimensions such as SY, SM, and JS, where individuals over 50 reported significantly more problems than other age groups. The biased constitutions and poor sleep quality were associated with a higher likelihood of reporting problems in most CQ-11D dimensions. Factors such as sleep quality, TCM constitution, and regular exercise were significantly associated with HRQoL. Conclusion Sleep quality, TCM constitution, and regular physical activity were associated with HRQoL of KTRs. Healthcare professionals should prioritize interventions targeting these factors, especially in older KTRs and those with a biased constitution, to improve their HRQoL.

Background:Dietary behaviour among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is a critical factor influencing long-term postoperative outcomes. However, research focusing on the dietary behaviour of KTRs remains limited. The aim of this study was to examine the dietary behaviour and explore the influencing factors of dietary behaviour in KTRs based on a health promotion model. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 289 KTRs from four hospitals were recruited from October 2022 to March 2023 by convenience sampling method. Participants completed a survey consisting of a general information questionnaire, the Dietary Self-management Ability Scale, the Perceived Dietary Behaviour Benefit and Barrier Questionnaire, the Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Adapted Health Eating Cognitive Beliefs Questionnaire. The survey was administered both online and on-site. Data were analysed with Spearman's correlation analysis and path analysis. Results:Dietary behaviour was at moderate level, with an index score of 78%. Depression (β = -0.207, p < 0.001), perceived behaviour benefits (β = 0.220, p < 0.001), perceived behaviour barriers (β = -0.234, p < 0.001), attitude (β = 0.135, p = 0.026), and social support (β = 0.166, p = 0.001) directly predicted dietary behaviour, while depression, attitude, and social support exhibited indirect effect on dietary behaviour. Conclusion:Medical staff could help KTRs change their poor dietary attitude and negative mode, guide them to receive more social support and perceived benefits, reduce their perceived barriers. These positive shifts could ultimately facilitate the emergence of healthy dietary behaviour and enhancement of quality of life.

BACKGROUND:Self-management among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) is crucial for preventing postoperative complications and improving health outcomes. However, challenges such as a lack of physical activity and the frequent consumption of high-calorie foods persist. Therefore, targeted interventions for enhancing post-transplant self-management behaviors are essential. Currently, scientific evidence on effective strategies to improve self-management among KTRs is lacking. Enhancing social support and promoting self-efficacy may be significant approaches. DESIGN AND METHODS:This study employs a meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) approach to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and self-management behaviors in KTRs. A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, ERIC, Springer, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang, from the inception of each database until August 9, 2024. Statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, Mplus for Mac, and R Studio for Mac. RESULTS:A total of 1990 titles and abstracts were screened in this study, resulting in the inclusion of 19 studies. The MASEM was constructed using a two-stage structural equation modeling approach. The analysis revealed that self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between social support and self-management behaviors (direct effect: 0.140; indirect effect: 0.299; 95 % CI: 0.268, 0.331). CONCLUSIONS:This study highlights the importance of clinical interventions aimed at enhancing social support and self-efficacy to improve self-management behaviors in KTRs. REGISTRATION:https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/MXBZY(https://osf.io/).

BackgroundEffective follow-up and management after organ transplantation are crucial for transplant recipients. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have emerged as a significant approach for facilitating follow-up and management. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of their effectiveness. ObjectiveThis study aimed to systematically review and synthesize evidence regarding the effectiveness of mHealth interventions in enhancing follow-up and management for transplant recipients. MethodsThis study included both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies of interventions (NRSIs) that compared the effects of mHealth interventions with usual care in transplant recipients by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL from database inception to June 2025. The primary outcomes included self-care ability, medical regimen adherence, self-monitoring, communication and counseling, medication adherence, physical activity, nutrition, all-cause mortality, complications, rehospitalization, and emergency and outpatient department visits. The risk of bias for each study was assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs and the Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions tool for NRSIs. Data extraction and quality assessment were conducted by 2 reviewers independently. Data synthesis was conducted using Review Manager. Both a meta-analysis and a narrative synthesis were carried out. ResultsA total of 23 studies (n=15, 65% RCTs and n=8, 35% NRSIs) with 2022 transplant recipients were included. Compared to the control group, mHealth interventions significantly improved self-care ability (mean difference 14.49, 95% CI 9.61-19.36; P<.001) and reduced rehospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 0.49, 95% CI 0.34-0.71; P<.001). The meta-analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in mortality rates (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.39-1.35; P=.31), rejection (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.25-1.19; P=.13), or infection (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.06-1.82; P=.20) between the mHealth intervention and control groups. The narrative synthesis indicated that mHealth interventions could effectively promote adherence to medical regimens and medications, facilitate self-monitoring, and improve communication and consultation. ConclusionsmHealth interventions significantly improved self-care ability and reduced rehospitalization rates among organ transplant recipients. However, these interventions did not demonstrate a significant effect on all-cause mortality or complications. mHealth interventions showed potential benefits for various self-management behaviors in organ transplant recipients, but these findings need to be further verified. Future research should prioritize high-quality studies that investigate the impact of mHealth on physical activity, nutrition, and other patient-centered outcomes. Trial RegistrationInternational Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols INPLASY202480101; https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2024-8-0101/ International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR2-10.37766/inplasy2024.8.0101

BACKGROUND:Immunosuppressive medication (IM) adherence, a dynamic and time-dependent behavior, is typically suboptimal among kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) and severely impacts their prognosis. Longitudinal data regarding the temporal trajectories of medication adherence are important for devising targeted intervention strategies. OBJECTIVE:To identify the trajectories of IM adherence in KTRs over the 2 years post transplantation. METHODS:Two hundred and twenty-two KTRs were recruited from a tertiary care hospital in China between May 2020 and February 2022. Data were collected at 3-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month post kidney transplantation. IM adherence was defined according to the BAASIS scale. A group-based trajectory model was used to depict and identify distinct trajectories. Univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to evaluate the association between baseline factors and membership in different trajectory groups. RESULTS:The prevalence of medication non-adherence at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation was 10.8%, 9.9%, 11.7%, and 22.1%, respectively. Three adherence trajectories were identified, including the "consistent adherence" (65.5%), "high start and decreasing adherence" (28.0%), and "increasing adherence" (6.6%) trajectory group. The critical transition point, as the 6-month time point after transplantation, in adherence dynamics was identified. Recipients experiencing decreasing adherence trajectories were possibly younger, received a technical/high school education, and lived alone. CONCLUSIONS:Distinct trajectories of medication adherence among KTRs were identified during the 2-year post-transplantation period. A previously unrecognized adherence trajectory-the "increasing adherence" trajectory and the critical transition point in adherence dynamics was identified, particularly highlighting the 6-month post transplantation period as a pivotal intervention window.

Background/Objectives: Effective self-management after lung transplantation is critical. The Health Belief Model is frequently used to predict and explain the health behaviour in chronic ill patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the status and association factors of self-management among lung transplantation recipients based on the Health Belief Model. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 123 lung transplantation recipients at the lung transplant unit of a general hospital from March 2022 to October 2023. The survey instruments included the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Champion Health Beliefs Model Scale, and the Self-Management Questionnaire for Lung Transplant Recipients. SPSS 25.0 was adopted to perform descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Scoring indicators of self-management dimensions in lung transplantation recipients were lifestyle management (82.8%), communication with physicians (50.0%), cognitive symptom management (36.0%), and exercise (21.7%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the number of postoperative complications, perceived seriousness, perceived benefits, and health motivation explained 22.3% of the total variation in the exercise dimension; health motivation and social support explained 13.5% and 17.4% of the variation in cognitive symptom management dimension and communication with physicians dimension, respectively; and health motivation, social support, and perceived barriers explained 24.0% of the total variation in the lifestyle management dimension. Conclusions: Health motivation, perceived seriousness, perceived benefits and barriers, social support, and the number of postoperative complications were the main association factors of self-management behaviour among lung transplant recipients.

ABSTRACT Objective: To understand the facilitators and barriers for frail kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) practicing Baduanjin, and to provide a theoretical basis for developing intervention strategies. Subjects and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 frail KTRs who participated in a 3-month Baduanjin practice. The Colaizzi seven-step analysis method was used to analyze, summarize, and extract themes from the interview data. Results: Two themes were extracted: facilitators and barriers. Facilitators included intrinsic motivation and perceived benefits, while barriers included conflicts with practice time, worsening physical condition, lack of immediate benefits, and difficulty integrating into daily life. Conclusion: The practice of Baduanjin by frail KTRs is influenced by various factors. Healthcare professionals should develop personalized intervention plans that take into account these factors and the needs of the patients.

Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) face unique psychological distress post-transplantation, which may potentially impact their recovery, so establishing effective psychological coping mechanisms can significantly impact their recovery and overall quality of life. Self-psychological adjustment plays a critical role by mobilizing the recipient’s internal resources, thereby improving their psychological well-being more effectively. This study aims to evaluate the relevant systematic reviews to provide evidence-based support for psychological distress and self-psychological adjustment methods in LTRs. A method of overview of systematic reviews was conducted to synthesize findings from relevant studies. The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, Chinese Scientific Journals Full-text Database (VIP), and Sinomed were searched from the establishment of the database until January 30, 2024. In addition, the updated searches were completed on May 15, 2025. Two researchers independently screened and extracted data. We applied the AMSTAR 2 Scale to assess methodological quality of included reviews, and used the PRISMA 2020 and ENTRQ to assess reporting quality of included reviews. And the GRADE and CERQual frameworks were used to determine the certainty of the evidence. A total of 10 reviews were included, covering “psychological distress” and “self-psychological adjustment methods”. Common psychological distress identified included anxiety, depression, uncertainty about the future, adjustment disorders, sense of inadequacy, and fear of complications. Self-psychological adjustment methods were categorized into: (1) actively integrating into the society, (2) resuming daily activities, changing lifestyle and attitude, (3) accepting self, (4) seeking social support, (5) psychological interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention, music therapy. The AMSTAR 2 assessment indicated overall low methodological quality, with significant deficiencies in three key items (Item 2, 9 and 13). The reporting assessment results showed that most of the included reviews still needed to be improved in terms of reporting quality. The certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to very low, with notable inconsistencies between study findings and the actual situation. Currently, the methodological quality, reporting quality, and evidence quality of included reviews need to be improved. Self-psychological adjustment appears beneficial in alleviating psychological distress among LTRs. More high-quality, large-sample studies are still needed for further validation.

Introduction Frailty is one of the most common comorbidities in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Physical, psychological and social frailty could be improved by exercise intervention. Baduanjin, also known as Eight-section Brocades, is a type of traditional Chinese medicine exercise characterised by the interplay between physical postures and movements, breathing and mind. It can help frail patients strengthen their upper and lower body muscles, improve their mood, quality of life and frailty. However, the effectiveness of Baduanjin on frail KTRs remains unknown. Therefore, we will conduct a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of Baduanjin on frail KTRs.Methods and analysis This protocol describes an assessor and analyst blinded, parallel RCT for frail KTRs comparing Baduanjin group (n=72) with care-as-usual group (n=72). The primary outcomes are frailty assessed by Frailty Phenotype scale and Tilburg Frailty Indicator scale, and muscle strength assessed by a grip strength metre. The secondary outcomes are quality of life assessed by Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36) and depression assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All these data will be collected at the baseline, after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, respectively. Two-way mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be used to test the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise. Qualitative interviews with participants in the intervention group will also be performed after 6 months. Themes will be extracted from interview transcripts using NVivo software.Ethics and dissemination The Ethics Committees of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (2022BZYLL1018) and China-Japan Friendship Hospital (2022-KY-250) had approved the study. The organ donors were all from China-Japan Friendship Hospital. They provided informed consent and they were not executed prisoners. We have provided BMJ Open with documentation from the hospital that indicates that the organs will be harvested ethically. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, media reports and briefings.Trial registration number ChiCTR2100041730

Purpose:To (1) investigate the changes in 5 domains (lack of family support, impact on finance, impact on daily schedule, impact on health, and self-esteem) of family caregiver (FC) burden and overall burden for first diagnosed colorectal cancer; (2) exploring changes in FC burden for colorectal cancer patients over time and analyze the trajectory and sub-trajectories of FC burden; and (3) identify the FC-related and patient-related factors most associated with the overall FC burden and each of its sub-trajectories.Patients and methods:This study is a descriptive longitudinal study. A convenience sampling method was used to recruit patients with colorectal cancer and their primary FCs from seven hospitals.Results:A total of 185 pairs of first diagnosed colorectal cancer patient and their FC were investigated for 4 times. The results reveal the overall burden and 5 domains of burden showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing, and the burden was the heaviest at the time in the middle of chemotherapy. In the course of time, the aspect that caused the greatest amount of burden on average transitioned from the "effect on daily schedule" (range= 3.3 and 3.9) to the "effect on finances" (range= 3.1 to 3.4).Conclusion:Almost 88% of FCs have a either a moderate or a high level of burden. The quality of life of patients and the self-efficacy, social support and care ability of FCs have a great impact on the overall FC burden and each sub-trajectory.

To clarify and refine the specific elements of post-transplant recovery in lung transplant recipients, we explored the four dimensions of recovery: physiological, psychological, social, and habitual. This study is a scoping review. Two authors conducted a comprehensive electronic literature search to identify studies published from the establishment of the database to August 2022. Deductive coding was utilized to identify and categorize elements using a predefined list of the four components (physiological, psychological, social, and habitual recovery) based on the framework of post-transplant recovery proposed by Lundmark et al. Inductive coding was applied for concepts requiring further classification. The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews guideline. Systematic searching identified 8,616 potential records, of which 51 studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten subdimensions and their corresponding elements were identified and categorized into four dimensions of recovery following lung transplantation. The subdimensions included physiological recovery (including symptom experience, complications, physical function, and energy reserve), psychological recovery (encompassing affective distress, psychological adaptation, and transition from illness to health), social recovery (involving family adaptation and social adaptation), and habit recovery (focusing on health behavior).

To investigate the status quo and influencing factors of overall frailty and its 3 domains among rural community-dwelling older adults. This is a cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 195 older adults from 6 villages in Bashang Area of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, China, were recruited from August to September, 2022. The demographic characteristics, the Chinese version of Tilburg Frailty Indicator, Charlson Comorbidity Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to investigate frailty and its influencing factors. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. The prevalence of overall frailty among the older adults in Bashang Area was 85.13%. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, gender, marital status, regular exercise, comorbidity, and anxiety were the influencing factors of overall frailty. While anxiety was the only shared influencing factor for physical frailty, psychological frailty, and social frailty, age, gender, marital status, financial burden, the comorbidity, and regular exercise were factors which influenced 1 or 2 domains of frailty. The prevalence of overall frailty among the older adults in rural areas, Zhangjiakou City is high. It is influenced by many factors. Medical staff and policy makers should work hand in hand to improve frailty among rural community-dwelling older adults in China.

Background Providing self-management support to kidney transplant recipients is essential. However, a scale to identify the self-management support they have received is lacking. The purpose of this study is to develop a Self-management Support Scale for Kidney Transplant Recipients (SMSSKTR) and test its psychometric properties. Methods This is an instrument development and validation study, which has a three-stage cross-sectional design. In Stage 1, a preliminary item pool was formed using a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and the Delphi method. In Stage 2, six experts were invited to assess content validity. A convenience sample of 313 participants was used to explore the factor structure by using exploratory factor analysis. The test-retest reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). In Stage 3, two hundred and sixty-five participants were recruited to validate the factor structure by using confirmatory factor analysis. Convergent validity was examined using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and corrected item-total correlation coefficient were used to test the reliability of the entire scale and its dimensions. The study was reported according to the STARD and GRRAS checklists. Results An initial 40-item scale was developed in Stage 1. In Stage 2, three factors with 22 items emerged from the exploratory factor analysis: instrumental support, psychosocial support, and relational support. The content validity index of the scale was 0.97. The intra-class correlation coefficient for the entire scale and the subscales were 0.915, 0.771, 0.896, and 0.832, respectively. In Stage 3, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the three-factor model had a good fit. The score of the scale was positively associated with that of the Self-Management Scale of Renal Transplant Recipients ( r = 0.532). Cronbach’s alpha was 0.959 for the entire scale and 0.956–0.958 for the three subscales. The corrected item-total correlation coefficient ranged from 0.62 to 0.82. Conclusion The 22-item SMSSKTR has sufficient psychometric properties to assess the self-management support they have received, which has not been measured before.