Treatment satisfaction in renal transplant patients taking tacrolimus once daily.
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.
['van Boekel|Gerben A J|GA|', 'Kerkhofs|Chantal H H|CH|', 'Hilbrands|Luuk B|LB|']
D000328:Adult D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004334:Drug Administration Schedule D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination D005260:Female D006084:Graft Rejection D006801:Humans D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents D016030:Kidney Transplantation D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010349:Patient Compliance D011446:Prospective Studies D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D016559:Tacrolimus D016896:Treatment Outcome
treatment satisfaction tacrolimus once daily adherence kidney transplantation