Introduction: According to 2021 statistics in Turkey, there are 19,068 patients waiting for kidney transplantation, 1337 patients waiting for liver transplantation, and 809 patients waiting for heart transplantation. However, the number of transplanted patients is not at the desired level. This situation is due to the insufficient number of organs entering the system, patients' opposition to organ transplantation, and lack of knowledge about organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to determine the transplant readiness levels of patients awaiting organ transplantation, assess the patients' adjustment to life post-transplant, and carry out a validity and reliability assessment of the organ transplant readiness scale in order to offer patients the support they require.
Method: This methodological descriptive  study was conducted between December 2023 and February 2024 on 227 patients awaiting kidney transplantation. The data were evaluated using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 and IBM SPSS AMOS 23 programs. Descriptive statistics (n, %) are given for categorical variables. In evaluating the scores given by experts, KGI and KGO were calculated. The characteristics of the participants were examined with frequency and percentage distributions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and item-total correlation were used to evaluate the data for construct validity.
Results: The total Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the Turkish scale was 0.94. From the confirmatory factor analysis, the results of model-fit index are: goodness-of-fit index = 0.829, normed fit ındex: 0.886, ıncremental fit ındex: 0.919, comparative fit index = 0.918. According to the explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, 11 items with low factor loads were discarded and the scale was finalized as 21 items. It was determined that the Organ Transplant Readiness Scale has a 5-factor structure: knowledge, treatment compliance, healthy living, cognition and social support. Test-retest reliability evaluated by intraclass correlation was found to be 0.99.
Conclusions: The Turkish version of the Organ Transplant Readiness Scale, prepared for patients waiting for organ transplantation, would be a valid and reliable measurement tool for the Turkish society. Findings showed that the Turkish version of the scale consists of 5 subscales. Cronbach's alpha value of the Turkish version of the scale was high. This scale can guide nurses in planning the nursing care of the patient who is preparing for organ transplantation. The needs of the patient preparing for transplant can be determined. Thus, it can give healthcare professionals an idea about how ready patients are for organ transplantation and how patient adaptation will be after organ transplantation.