*Purpose: Successful transition of adolescent and young adult transplant recipients to adult-centered care remains challenging for transplant centers. This transition is associated with graft loss and increased mortality, likely due to medication non-adherence. Our aim is to increase autonomy and reduce medication education gaps for adolescent and young adult kidney transplant recipients to enhance transition readiness to adult care.

*Methods: All patients developmentally appropriate and ≥14 years completed the American Society of Transplantation (AST) Transition Readiness survey prior to pharmacist education for a baseline score. Pharmacist assessment and supplemental education was completed during transplant clinic appointments and included reviewing patients’ knowledge of medication names, dosing, timing, purpose, common side effects and safe/contraindicated over-the-counter medications. Additionally, we assessed if patients routinely contact the pharmacy for refills and how they keep track of their medications. Requesting refills and the use of a medication list or phone app were encouraged. Once education was completed, patients completed the Medication Knowledge section of the AST Transition Readiness survey for the post-education score. Patients who transitioned prior to completing the medication education were not included in this study.

*Results: 30 adolescent patients 14-16 years old and 22 young adult patients ≥17 years old completed the AST Transition Readiness survey. The average score for medication knowledge in adolescents was 12.9 out of 19 points (67.9%) while the average score for young adults was 14.1 out of 21 points (67.1%). Fifteen adolescents completed medication education and a post-education survey with an average pre-score of 14 (73.7%) and average post score of 15.2 (80%, with a range of improvement of -3 to 5). Nine young adults completed medication education and a post-education survey with an average pre-score of 15.9 (75.7%) and average post-score of 17.1 (81.4% with a range of improvement of -6 to 8). Post-education, 20/24 patients could name all or most of their medications, 17/24 patients knew over-the-counter medications to avoid, 14/24 patients knew common side effects of all or most of their medications and only 9/24 patients kept a list of their medications.

*Conclusions: Medication education as part of transition readiness efforts was feasible during appointments without interruption to clinic flow. There was an overall average improvement in medication knowledge score after education by 1.2 points in both the adolescent and young adult groups (6.3% and 5.7% respectively). Further investigation is needed as to why some patients had lower knowledge scores after education.

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