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How Well Do Kidney Transplant Patients Understand Their Medications and Does Real-Time Assessment of Knowledge Improve Retention of Information?

B. Clark1, B. Sirandas1, T. Larson2, A. Carlson1, C. Truax1, D. D. Ramirez1, L. Smith1, I. Hall1

1University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, UT, 2Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: D33

Keywords: Immunosuppression, Resource utilization

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session D: Quality Assurance Process Improvement & Regulatory Issues

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

 Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the impact that early formal assessment and reteaching have on patient medication knowledge after renal transplant.

*Methods: This was a prospective cohort study performed at an academic medical center. Patients included were adult, first-time, English speaking, renal transplant recipients (N=49). All patients received immunosuppressive regimens of tacrolimus IR, mycophenolate, and prednisone upon discharge. Transplant pharmacists completed standard discharge education for all patients. The study group (SG) took an assessment (Image 1) immediately following education that the pharmacist then reviewed with the patient. The control group (CG) did not receive this assessment. All patients received an assessment to evaluate retention of information at their postop day 30 appointments. Scores on this assessment were compared to determine if reinforcing information on the first assessment improved retention of information in the SG. Correlation between patient characteristics and assessment scores was assessed using a Poisson regression.

*Results: With the exception of patient age, baseline characteristics were similar between groups (Table 1). Average patient age was higher in the CG (p=0.009). Median assessment scores for patients in the SG were higher than those in the CG (8.6 vs 7.9; p=0.035). However, Poisson regression showed no association between SG assignment and assessment score (p=0.39). No patient specific factors influenced assessment scores. There was a nonsignificant trend towards fewer 30‑day readmissions in the SG than in the CG (3 vs 6; p=0.27). There were no allograft failures or deaths in either group.

*Conclusions: Implementation of formal post transplant education assessment and reteaching improved retention scores. Though these findings were not statistically significant, a larger sample size or alternative methods may be needed to further define this relationship. Further study is warranted to determine if there are patient characteristics that impact comprehension of information or if alternative teaching strategies may be beneficial.

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Baseline Patient Characteristics
CG (n=23) SG (n=26)
Male 19 (82%) 17 (65%)
Age (mean, y) 55 44
Greater than high school education 21 (91%) 19 (73%)
Deceased donor 11 (47%) 10 (38%)
Number of pretransplant medications (mean) 7 6
Number of posttransplant medications (mean) 10 10
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To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Clark B, Sirandas B, Larson T, Carlson A, Truax C, Ramirez DD, Smith L, Hall I. How Well Do Kidney Transplant Patients Understand Their Medications and Does Real-Time Assessment of Knowledge Improve Retention of Information? [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/how-well-do-kidney-transplant-patients-understand-their-medications-and-does-real-time-assessment-of-knowledge-improve-retention-of-information/. Accessed May 8, 2025.

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