Longitudinal stability of specific barriers to medication adherence

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Transplant Medicine
• Adherence Research
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Barriers to medication adherence negatively impact pediatric transplant recipients' outcomes.
• While total barriers may be stable, specific barriers require further investigation over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the frequency and stability of specific medication adherence barriers in pediatric transplant recipients over 18 months.

Main Methods:

• 63 parents and 51 adolescents/young adults from kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplant cohorts participated.
• Perceived barriers to adherence were assessed at two time points, 18 months apart.

Main Results:

• Most parent- and adolescent-reported specific barriers demonstrated stability between the two assessment periods.
• Few specific barriers showed significant changes in endorsement levels over the 18-month study duration.

Conclusions:

• Specific barriers to medication adherence in pediatric transplant patients are generally stable over time.
• Interventions are likely necessary to modify these persistent barriers and improve patient outcomes.