Cross-Sectional Survey to Assess Barriers to Medication Adherence in an Urban Transplant Population
A. Reticker, B. Valdepenas, L. Glauner, O. Piatek, S. Kerns, P. West-Thielke
University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Meeting: 2020 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: B-245
Keywords: Adverse effects, Immunosuppression, Quality of life, Risk factors
Session Information
Session Name: Poster Session B: Psychosocial and Treatment Adherence
Session Type: Poster Session
Date: Saturday, May 30, 2020
Session Time: 3:15pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:30pm-4:00pm
Location: Virtual
*Purpose: Non-adherence is a strong predictor of post-transplant outcome. Barriers to medication adherence (MA) include the cost and complexity of a medication regimen, education level, and social support. Recent literature suggests that patient perception of disease, benefit, and adverse experiences can also contribute to MA. This study aims to describe the correlation between adverse events (AEs) of immunosuppressants and medication nonadherence (MNA) post-transplant.
*Methods: A cross-sectional survey that assessed frequency and severity of medication AEs and MA was administered to adult solid organ transplant recipients. At the time of consent, the patients could agree to participate in a longitudinal survey.The primary outcome was the frequency and severity of medication AEs in transplant recipients and if these change over time. Secondary outcomes include: frequency and severity of MNA and the incidence of acute rejection, graft loss, and death.
*Results: Results are preliminary as research is ongoing. 75 patients were analyzed. Minorities were well represented in this study (Table 1). The majority of this cohort (83.3%) reported they faced unexpected post-transplant events; most commonly the number of medications prescribed (43.1%) and AEs of these medications (43.1%). 41.7% of patients report experiencing barriers to MA. Patients also report barriers to care primarily due to access (difficulty with travel time due to distance (33.3%) or traffic (24%)). Patients self-report good MA, a strong knowledge regarding their treatment plan, and confidence in being able to adhere to their medication regimen. The most commonly reported AEs were difficulty participating in physical activity (57.3%), weight gain (56%), diarrhea (52.7%), pain (47.3%), mood changes (38.7%) and nausea/vomiting (36.5%). Further analysis will include correlations of AEs, MNA, graft and patient survival and how these change over time.
*Conclusions: MNA contributes significantly to graft failure. Understanding the barriers to MNA is instrumental in reducing its occurrence. The results of this study will further the knowledge regarding MNA and help to develop methods to improve MA.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Reticker A, Valdepenas B, Glauner L, Piatek O, Kerns S, West-Thielke P. Cross-Sectional Survey to Assess Barriers to Medication Adherence in an Urban Transplant Population [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2020; 20 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/cross-sectional-survey-to-assess-barriers-to-medication-adherence-in-an-urban-transplant-population/. Accessed November 22, 2024.« Back to 2020 American Transplant Congress