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.