Abstract
Objective
Assessing the level of non-adherence to immunosuppressive therapy in a sample of liver transplantation recipients using the Basel Assessment of Adherence with Immunosuppressive Medication Scale; correlating socio-demographic features and clinical factors to medication non-adherence.
Methods
This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted between March 2016 and March 2018 at the outpatient service for liver transplantations of the Federal University of São Paulo.
Results
Forty-nine patients were assessed. The level of medication non-adherence after liver transplantation was 49%. It was directly correlated to the use of mycophenolic acid (p=0.007) and to multiple daily dosing of immunosuppressant medication (p=0.004). No statistically significant correlations were found between non-adherence to immunosuppressive therapy, socio-demographic features, and the remaining clinical variables assessed.
Conclusion
This study shows that nearly half of all patients are not compliant with immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation. Given poor liver transplantation outcomes are intimately related to adherence failure, nurses need to assess this behavior in outpatient follow-up of liver transplantation recipients.
Treatment adherence and compliance; Medication adherence; Liver transplantation; Comprehensive health care; Nursing care