Adherence among renal transplant recipients

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Exploring the relationship between self-reported adherence and clinical data among renal transplant recipients.

  • IRAS ID

    254246

  • Contact name

    Ken Farrington

  • Contact email

    ken.farrington@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Hertfordshire

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 5 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Adherence to immunosuppressants is essential to ensure prolonged graft survival among renal transplant recipients. Non-adherence is a major risk factor for poor complications post-transplant, and has been identified as a common issue within this patient population. The current study seeks to use questionnaires to explore if their is a relationship between self-reported adherence and adherence recorded as part of routine care, among renal transplant recipients. This will specifically focus on immunosuppressant medication, which is vital to ensure prolonged graft survival. Self-reported adherence to immunosuppressants will be compared to immunosuppressant blood levels and post-transplant clinic attendance. This is important, as it could reveal if patients have a true understanding of what it means to be adherent, and if there is a need for intervention. In addition, there is a lack of research exploring the influence of illness perceptions and patient beliefs about medication on medication and treatment adherence. This is important to help clinicians better understand what psychosocial factors influence adherence, and if there is a need for intervention in renal transplant recipients in order to improve non-adherence rates.

    The research will be based at one NHS trust renal service. All adult patients that attend the post-transplant clinic who can access the study materials to complete the self-report questionnaires accurately will be eligible to participate.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    19/NE/0016

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Jan 2019

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion