Medication adherence patterns in adult renal transplant recipients

Patient adherence to immunosuppressive medications adherence is crucial to survival of the patient and a transplanted kidney, Yet adherence is variable. Using a prospective, descriptive design, immunosuppressive medication adherence of 44 renal transplant recipients was followed for 6 months at a Midwestern transplant center using electronic monitoring. Four medication adherence patterns emerged from a hierarchical cluster analysis: those who took medications on time, those who took medications on time with late/missed doses, those who rarely took medications on time and who were late with morning and/or evening doses, and those who missed doses. This study is a step toward developing and implementing interventions targeted to specific Patterns of poor adherence. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.