Date of Graduation

4-2020

Document Type

Capstone

Keywords

Kidney; Transplant; Exercise; Post-surgical; Physical activity; Walking

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Graduate

Advisor/Mentor

Stewart, Angela R.

Committee Member

Young, Kelly

Second Committee Member

Rhodes, Janice

Abstract

Kidney transplant recipients have shown to have substantial post-transplant weight gain within their first year after transplantation (Henggeler, C. K., Plank, L. D., Ryan, K. J., Gilchrist, E. L., Casas, J. M., Lloyd, L. E., Collins, M. G., 2018). After the development of end stage renal disease, a reduction in physical activity can occur as well as postoperative recovery stress (van Adrichem et al., 2018). Evidence has shown that increasing physical activity post-transplantation has various beneficial effects on the metabolic profile, body composition, and quality of life of kidney transplant recipients (Chan et al., 2019). A home-based exercise walking program will give post-kidney transplant recipients the opportunity to increase their physical activity and manage weight gain. The DNP project will occur in an outpatient transplant clinic that does not currently have a physical activity program for post-kidney transplant recipients to participate in. The purpose of this project is to prevent weight gain in post-surgical kidney transplant patients through the utilization of the LIFT program, a home-based, low impact exercise program. It is a monitored intervention using a wearable pedometer device to promote post-transplant physical activity by increasing steps by 15% from baseline every two weeks. Data will be collected including weight, BMI, daily steps, and through chart reviews pre-, during, and post-intervention to assess outcomes. Implementation of the LIFT program will be initiated in the outpatient setting for post-renal transplant patients in order to avoid post-transplant weight gain and adverse events. The proposed intervention is expected to improve the gap in care for the prevention of weight gain after kidney transplantation to aid in decreasing adverse health events.

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