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Is it surprising they omit their tablets?
Author(s) -
Valentine A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
edtna‐erca journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.381
H-Index - 27
eISSN - 1755-6686
pISSN - 1019-083X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-6686.2000.tb00092.x
Subject(s) - medicine , economic shortage , feeling , compliance (psychology) , adverse effect , intensive care medicine , patient compliance , family medicine , psychology , social psychology , linguistics , philosophy , government (linguistics)
Summary Non‐compliance is a significant contributory factor to graft loss. In these days of organ shortage and ever growing transplant waiting lists it is important that we maximize graft survival by addressing this issue. A study was conducted of eighty‐three patients consecutively attending the annual health review clinic. A series of structured questions were asked to ascertain, the patients' knowledge about medications, feelings about taking them, level of compliance and reasons for non‐compliance. Results showed that 90% of the patients fully understood what all their tablets were for, 74% said they never missed taking any of their tablets, whilst 22% forgot occasionally. Three patients admitted to stopping one or all of their immunosuppressive medications completely and one patient was enjoying a ‘holiday’ from his medications. Reasons given for non‐compliance included; adverse effects of the drugs, the number of tablets to be taken, life crises and forgetfulness.