title: Treatment satisfaction in renal transplant patients taking tacrolimus once daily.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: g.vanboekel@nier.umcn.nl.
authors.forename: Gerben A J
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: van Boekel
authors.forename: Chantal H H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kerkhofs
authors.forename: Luuk B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Hilbrands
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: adherence; kidney transplantation; tacrolimus once daily; treatment satisfaction