Background: Patients face a daunting regimen of medications, health monitoring and medical appointments following kidney transplant. This workload of healthcare and its impact on patient well-being are referred to as treatment burden and can adversely affect adherence. Prior studies suggest that patients with multiple chronic conditions use a variety of resources to decrease treatment burden. The aim of this study was to identify factors that kidney transplant recipients use to lessen treatment burden after kidney transplant.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with kidney transplant recipients (n=27) from three Mayo Clinic transplant centers in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. Interview data were analyzed using qualitative methodology. Two focus groups (n=16) were used to confirm interview data. This study was part of a larger project focused on the development of a patient-reported measure of treatment burden after kidney transplant.

Results: Analysis of qualitative interview and focus group data revealed four main themes of factors patients use to lessen treatment burden after kidney transplant: 1) organizational strategies (using pillboxes, creating a routine for self-care, using technology); 2) personal coping strategies (prioritizing a positive outlook, comparing themselves to others with worse health problems, maintaining autonomy, focusing on hobbies, turning to spirituality); 3) social support strategies (turning to friends and family for assistance, medical information and companionship); and 4) healthcare strategies (establishing beneficial relationships with healthcare providers, advocating for themselves as patients).

Discussion: Kidney transplant recipients use a variety of organizational, personal, social and healthcare-related resources to lessen treatment burden. Designing tools that not only measure treatment burden, but also patient ability to cope with post-transplant stress, could promote better care of kidney transplant recipients and improve adherence.

CITATION INFORMATION: Lorenz E., Egginton J., Stegall M., Heilman R., Nair S., Mai M., Eton D. Patient Experience after Kidney Transplant: Factors That Lessen the Burden of Treatment after Kidney Transplant Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

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