title: Examining the preparation and ongoing support of adults to take their medications as prescribed in kidney transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The shortage of kidney donors and benefits of kidney transplantation make graft success imperative. Medication adherence is critical to prevent the risk of graft rejection. This paper examines how adults are prepared and supported by renal transplant co-ordinators and pharmacists to take their medications as prescribed in kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Renal transplant co-ordinators and pharmacists of all five hospitals offering adult kidney transplantation in Victoria, Australia, were interviewed between November 2013 and February 2014. All data underwent qualitative descriptive analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine renal transplant co-ordinators and six pharmacists were interviewed. Although there was no standardized approach to education or other evidence-based strategies to facilitate medication adherence, there were similarities between sites. These similarities included printed information, pre-transplant education sessions, the use of medication lists and medication administration aids, intensive education in hospital and ensuring an adequate supply of medications post-discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal transplant co-ordinators and pharmacists recognized the importance of early patient education concerning immunosuppressant medication. However, each site had developed their own way of preparing a patient for kidney transplantation and follow-up in the acute hospital setting based on experience and practice. Other non-educational strategies involving behavioural and emotional aspects were less common. Differences in usual care reinforce the necessity for evidence-based health care for best patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manias
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mullins
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Orla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Maney
authors.forename: Tia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gregory
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Hardeveld
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Jac Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Low
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000652:urine; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D055118:Medication Adherence; D054539:Medication Therapy Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D063046:Patient Medication Knowledge; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000458:organization & administration; D017010:Reminder Systems; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D014739:Victoria
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: interview; kidney transplantation; medication adherence; nursing; pharmacy; usual care