Medication compliance following renal transplantation

Background. There appears to be general consensus that a relationship exist s between noncompliance and clinical outcomes in health care, including ren al transplantation. This study investigated variables associated with medic ation noncompliance after renal transplantation. Methods. A mail survey containing objective and subjective variables was se nt to individuals who met eligibility criteria. Medication compliance was m easured by two items: 1) Frequency of forgetting to take medications and 2) Frequency of not taking medications exactly as prescribed. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were utilized to examine the data. Results. Individuals who were older and those who perceived less pain were less likely to forget medications. The belief that health outcomes were con trolled by chance and feeling bothered by part of the transplant experience were associated with greater likelihood of forgetting medications. Individ uals who perceived a higher level of social functioning and those who belie ved that health outcomes were controlled by powerful others were more likel y to take medications exactly as prescribed. An internal locus of control f or health outcomes and feeling bothered by part of the transplant experienc e were associated with less likelihood of taking medication exactly as pres cribed. Conclusions. The finding of this study suggest that compliance with medicat ions after renal transplant is associated with subjective, not objective va riables. Positive feelings regarding their physicians and the transplant ex perience increased compliance. Combining consistent measurement of complian ce, examination of its relationship to clinical outcomes, and appreciation for the patient perspective should result in increased levels of compliance and better clinical outcomes.