Knowledge, Anxiety, and Compliance with Preventive Behavior of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Liver Transplant Patients

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge, anxiety and compliance with preventive behavior of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in liver transplant patients. Methods: The participants in the study were 100 liver transplant patients at an outpatient clinic. The data were collected from May 20, 2016, to June 20, 2016. Results: The knowledge score was 6.37±1.73 (range; 1∼10) and the correct answer rate was 63.7%. The state anxiety score was 41.35±10.08 (range; 20∼68) and the trait anxiety score was 39.60±8.85 (range; 22∼59). The compliance with preventive behavior score was 35.70±5.23 (range; 21∼45). Anxiety differed significantly according to education level (P=0.040) and occupation status (P=0.047). Compliance with preventive behavior differed significantly according to period after surgery (P=0.035). Compliance with preventive behavior and state anxiety (P=0.007) and trait anxiety (P<0.001) were negatively related. The factor that had the greatest effect on compliance with preventive behavior was trait anxiety (P=0.003). Conclusions: The epidemic of the MERS has already been completed and none of the subjects of this study has been infected with the MERS; however, patients with liver transplantation always have a risk of various opportunistic infections. If new infectious diseases such as MERS occur in the future, increased anxiety may decrease the practice of prevention. Therefore, anxiety experienced by liver transplant patients should be managed.