Investigation of anxiety and depression levels in nurses caring for organ transplant patients

Abstract

Organ transplantation is a comprehensive care process that heavily utilizes technology and teamwork, directly impacting the quality of life of patients. In this process, nurses play a critical role not only in providing physical care but also in meeting the emotional and psychological needs of patients, helping them cope with post-transplant stress and uncertainty. However, the limited number of studies in the literature focusing on the mental burden of nurses, such as anxiety and depression, makes a detailed examination of the subject important and necessary. This research aims to determine the anxiety and depression levels of nurses providing direct care to organ transplant patients, to examine the factors affecting these levels, and to reveal the need for psychosocial support for nurses in the healthcare system. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between September 2025 and June 2026 with 211 nurses providing care to organ transplant recipients in seven geographic regions of Türkiye. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method via an online questionnaire. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Beck Depression Inventory-Short Form, and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. The study found that nurses caring for organ transplant patients experienced mild depressive symptoms, with mean State and Trait Anxiety Inventory scores of 45.66 ± 3.17 and 49.23 ± 2.56, respectively. In addition, a moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlation was observed between depression and anxiety. Separate multiple linear regression analyses showed that depression and state anxiety scores were largely unrelated to the sociodemographic and occupational variables examined, with the overall models not reaching statistical significance; only the number of patients cared for daily showed a marginal association with depression (β = 0.150, p = 0.036), and age was weakly associated with state anxiety (β = 0.379, p = 0.029). The trait anxiety model was statistically significant, with a longer length of service in the transplant unit associated with lower, rather than higher, trait anxiety scores (β = -0.361, p = 0.001). Gender and shift pattern were not independent predictors of depression or anxiety scores. This study revealed that, overall, the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics examined explained only a small proportion of the variance in nurses' depression and anxiety scores, suggesting that the psychological burden associated with organ transplant nursing may stem primarily from the intrinsic nature of the work rather than from individual or structural characteristics such as sex, education, or shift schedule. Length of service in the transplant unit was the only consistent predictor across models, and its association with lower trait anxiety may reflect an accumulation of clinical experience and coping skills over time rather than cumulative stress. Nonetheless, given the mild depressive and anxiety symptom levels observed across the sample, the importance of institutional support, psychosocial interventions, and regular assessments for transplant nurses remains warranted. Furthermore, it is anticipated that future studies with larger sample sizes will reveal the experiences of nurses and the impact of support models more comprehensively.