Korean J Transplant.  2022 Nov;36(Supple 1):S378. 10.4285/ATW2022.F-5173.

Preliminary results of pharmacist’s periodic counseling program on medication adherence and satisfaction in kidney transplantation recipients

• Kim J
• Oh YJ
• Jun H
• Jung CW

• KMID: 2535226
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4285/ATW2022.F-5173

Abstract

Background
Medication nonadherence is a leading cause of long-term graft failure in kidney transplantation (KT). After KT, three immunosuppressants are being taken as standard therapy, and due to the differences in immunologic risks and the development of new immunosuppressants, the recipients are exposed to more diverse medications. As the number of elderly recipients are increase, medications for various chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, gout and cardiovascular disease must be prescribed at once. These circumstances has contributed to diminish medication adherence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effect of pharmacist’s periodic counseling program (PCP) on medication adherence in KT recipients.
Methods
Sixteen patients who underwent KT between from November 2020 to April 2021 in Korea University Anam Hospital had been enrolled. Transplant pharmacists review drug-drug interactions, monitor medication adherence, provide quarterly medication counseling in PCP. Adherence to immunosuppressive medications was assessed by immunosuppressant therapy adher- ence scale (ITAS) and it was conducted four times every 3 months for 1 year after KT. The four-item ITAS composite can range from a low of 0, indicating very poor adherence, to a high of 12, indicating perfect adherence.
Results
Fifteen recipients except one patient who dropped out due to cerebral infarction, completed and returned the scale for a 100% response rate. Sixty percent (9/15) was male and mean age was 55.8±10.3 years. The medication adherence as measured by the ITAS has been gradually improved over time after 3 month-based PCP. The medication adherence rate was 40.0% (6/15) at first, but it had risen up to 86.7% (13/15) after conducting four times counseling. Women reported higher rates of adherence (6/6).
Conclusions
PCP appears to be effective in enhancing medication adherence, which would ultimately improve long-term graft survival. We plan to continue this study until 50 recipients, a target number of subjects, are enrolled.