Introduction: The objective of this study was to identify profiles of kidney transplant recipients with varying preferences and needs for self-management support (SMS). Insight in these profiles can help to design tailored SMS interventions.

Methods: Patients <6 months after transplantation were invited to participate to ensure a sample with varying self-management experiences. Inclusion criteria were age (over 18 years), Dutch-speaking and a functioning graft. Patient profiles were generated using Q-methodology. Participants rank-ordered opinion statements according to agreement on various aspects of SMS. Factor analysis was used to analyse the rankings. The resulting factors represent patients with comparable attitudes towards SMS.

Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age 56; 79% male) participated. The majority were married (68%), unemployed (68%) and Dutch (91%). We identified three patient profiles: Profile A (adherent and transplant-focused), Profile B (collaborative and holistic) and Profile C (autonomous and life-focused). Patients in Profile A are more likely than the others to agree that their lives revolve around their transplant, that medication alone is not enough for recovery, and that they are adherent to health care providers' recommendations. Patients in Profile B are more likely to agree that their health is a shared responsibility with health care providers, that an interdisciplinary approach is needed and that they find it difficult to adhere to self-management recommendations. Patients in Profile C are more likely to agree that they want to be autonomous in decision-making, that they strive to minimalize the impact of the transplantation on their daily lives as much as possible, and that they only expect SMS from professionals in the medical domain.

Discussion: Three profiles of attitudes toward SMS after transplantation were identified, indicating the need to provide personalized self-management support.

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