Factors related to immunosuppressant medication adherence in renal transplant recipients

• Published in: Clinical transplantation Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 706 - 713
• Main Authors: Chisholm-Burns, Marie, Pinsky, Brett, Parker, Gretchen, Johnson, Phaedra, Arcona, Steven, Buzinec, Paul, Chakravarti, Paula, Good, Meg, Cooper, Matthew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2012; Wiley
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data processing; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Immunosuppressive agents; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Kidney Transplantation; life satisfaction; Male; Medical sciences; medication adherence; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; medication beliefs; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance - statistics & numerical data; Prognosis; renal transplant; Socioeconomic Factors; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tissue, organ and graft immunology; Young Adult; Belief; Drug; Attitude; Satisfaction; renal transplant; Transplantation; medication adherence; Homotransplantation; Kidney; Quality of life; Medicine; Drug compliance; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Urinary system; Surgery; medication beliefs; Graft; Treatment compliance; Immunosuppressive agent; life satisfaction
• ISSN: 0902-0063; 1399-0012
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0012.2011.01589.x

Chisholm‐Burns M, Pinsky B, Parker G, Johnson P, Arcona S, Buzinec P, Chakravarti P, Good M, Cooper M. Factors related to immunosuppressant medication adherence in renal transplant recipients.
:  Non‐adherence to immunosuppressant medications (ISM) is a significant issue for transplant recipients. This study examines factors influencing ISM adherence in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Patient‐reported data were collected through a cross‐sectional survey including use of ISMs, adherence behaviors, perceived adherence barriers, beliefs and attitudes toward ISMs, and patient life satisfaction. Logistic regression was conducted to examine how RTRs’ beliefs about use of ISMs, life satisfaction, and ISM adherence barriers were related to adherence. A total of 512 adult commercial insurance enrollees following renal transplantation were included in the analysis. One hundred and seventy‐seven RTRs were non‐adherent (34.5%); the most frequently cited reason was forgetfulness. RTRs aged 18–29 yr were more likely to be non‐adherent than recipients 46–64 yr old (p ≤ 0.001). Non‐adherent RTRs had greater adherence barriers than adherent RTRs (p < 0.001). Adherent RTRs believed their ISMs were more necessary than non‐adherent RTRs (p < 0.001), while non‐adherent RTRs had greater concerns about taking ISMs (p = 0.009) and believed they had less control over their lives than adherent RTRs (p < 0.001). Non‐adherent RTRs had lower life satisfaction (p < 0.001). Non‐adherence is significantly associated with patients’ beliefs about ISMs, perceived barriers, and lower life satisfaction. Strategies to increase ISM adherence are discussed.