Medication adherence patterns in adult renal transplant recipients

Abstract

Patient adherence to immunosuppressive medications adherence is crucial to survival of the patient and a transplanted kidney, yet adherence is variable. Using a prospective, descriptive design, immunosuppressive medication adherence of 44 renal transplant recipients was followed for 6 months at a Midwestern transplant center using electronic monitoring. Four medication adherence patterns emerged from a hierarchical cluster analysis: those who took medications on time, those who took medications on time with late/missed doses, those who rarely took medications on time and who were late with morning and/or evening doses, and those who missed doses. This study is a step toward developing and implementing interventions targeted to specific patterns of poor adherence.

Figures

FIGURE 1.

Medication adherence patterns cluster 1 (n= 14) Legend: OT is on time. L is late. M is missing. E is early with medication taking. The top row of abbreviations is the morning dose timing. The bottom row is the evening dose timing.

FIGURE 2.

Medication adherence patterns cluster 2 (n = 8) Legend: OT is on time. L is late. M is missing. E is early with medication taking. The top row of abbreviations is the morning dose timing. The bottom row is the evening dose timing.

FIGURE 3.

Medication adherence patterns cluster 3 (n = 6) Legend: OT is on time. L is late. M is missing. E is early with medication taking. The top row of abbreviations is the morning dose timing. The bottom row is the evening dose timing.

FIGURE 4.

Medication adherence patterns cluster 4 (n = 4) Legend: OT is on time. L is late. M is missing. E is early with medication taking. The top row of abbreviations is the morning dose timing. The bottom row is the evening dose timing.