Influence of an Innovative Multi-disciplinary Perioperative Nursing Model on Outcomes and Quality of Life in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background: Kidney transplantation remains the optimal treatment for end-stage renal disease. Perioperative management is crucial for short-term recovery and long-term graft outcomes. The Rosenthal effect demonstrates how positive expectations enhance results via self-fulfilling predictions, exhibiting advantages in healthcare settings; however, it remains understudied in transplant care. This study evaluated an innovative multi-disciplinary perioperative nursing model incorporating the Rosenthal effect for kidney transplant recipients compared with standard care. Methods: A retrospective cohort study included 144 kidney transplant recipients (July 2021–May 2025) divided into the innovative care (n = 74) and standard care (n = 70) groups. The innovative care group received multi-disciplinary team support with Rosenthal effect-based psychological care protocols, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery protocols and 3-month digital follow-up. The primary outcomes were graft survival and acute rejection rates. The secondary outcomes included psychological status (anxiety and depression), quality of life, medication adherence, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Statistical analysis included independent t-tests, chi-square tests and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: The innovative care group achieved superior 1-year graft survival (97.30% vs 91.43%, p = 0.042), reduced acute rejection (10.81% vs 24.29%, p = 0.031), lowered anxiety scores (40.34 ± 4.32 vs 44.36 ± 4.15, p < 0.001) and improved quality of life with higher SF-36 physical (48.76 ± 8.12 vs 42.34 ± 9.45, p < 0.001) and mental component scores (68.44 ± 8.91 vs 63.75 ± 9.12, p = 0.002). Conclusions: The novel multi-disciplinary nursing model was associated with significantly improved clinical outcomes, psychological status and quality of life in kidney transplant recipients. These findings support further investigation through prospective randomised trials.