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Feelings of indebtedness and guilt toward donor and immunosuppressive medication adherence among heart transplant ( HT x) patients, as assessed in a cross‐sectional study with the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale ( BAASIS )
Author(s) -
Shemesh Yedida,
PelesBortz Anat,
Peled Yael,
HarZahav Yedael,
Lavee Jacob,
Freimark Dov,
Melnikov Semyon
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.13053
Subject(s) - medicine , cross sectional study , medication adherence , heart transplantation , feeling , intensive care medicine , transplantation , pathology , social psychology , psychology
Background Nonadherence ( NA ) to immunosuppressive ( IS ) medications after organ transplant is a major risk factor for transplant failure, morbidity, and treatment costs. This study examined the association between feelings of indebtedness and guilt toward the donor, and IS medication adherence among HT x patients. Methods In this cross‐sectional, descriptive, correlational study, a convenience sample of 102 HT x patients, from the outpatient facility of a tertiary medical center in Israel, completed the BAASIS , a validated instrument for assessing adherence, and reported their feelings of indebtedness and guilt toward the donor. Results For the dimensions of taking and timing, as well as the occurrence of drug holidays, dose reduction and discontinuation, the non‐adherence levels were 35.0%, 56.9%, 11.0%, 5.9% and 3%, respectively. The overall non‐adherence characterized 64 patients (64%). Age, waiting time, and time since transplant, guilt feelings, and indebtedness to donor explained 17% (R 2 =.17) of the variance in adherence (χ 2 (5) =13.22, P =.021), with age, time since transplant, and guilt feelings significantly explaining adherence. Conclusion Physicians and nurses should inquire about the presence of guilt feelings, as they might be associated with NA to medications after HT x. [Correction added on 22 June 2022, after first online publication: correction made in “Results” section.]