1. Treatment satisfaction in renal transplant patients taking tacrolimus once daily.
- Author
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van Boekel GA, Kerkhofs CH, and Hilbrands LB
- Subjects
- Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Graft Rejection prevention & control, Immunosuppressive Agents administration & dosage, Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects, Kidney Transplantation, Patient Compliance, Tacrolimus administration & dosage, Tacrolimus adverse effects
- Abstract
Background: Adherence to immunosuppressive therapy, which is important to prevent rejection after organ transplantation, is influenced by satisfaction of patients with their medication regimen., Objective: We investigated the effect of introducing a simplified medication regimen for renal transplant patients on treatment satisfaction, in particular, convenience., Methods: In a prospective cohort study, treatment was switched from tacrolimus twice daily to tacrolimus once daily with a simultaneous change to a once-daily formulation of other drugs when applicable. Treatment satisfaction was measured in 75 participants with the validated Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication version II., Results: The treatment convenience score increased from a mean (SD) of 66.0 (14.5) to 78.5 (14.5) (P < 0.001). The mean (SD) daily number of medication ingestion time points diminished from 2.4 (0.7) to 1.6 (0.7) (P < 0.001), and the mean (SD) daily number of tablets decreased from 12.4 (3.3) to 9.1 (2.6) (P < 0.001). The self-reported adherence to the medication regimen increased from 79.7% to 94.6% (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: The introduction of a simplified medication regimen enabled by the use of a once-daily formulation of tacrolimus increases treatment convenience after renal transplantation. This regimen had a beneficial effect on self-reported adherence., (© 2013 Published by Elsevier HS Journals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2013
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