title: Factors Associated with Greater Adherence to and Satisfaction with Transdermal Rivastigmine in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Their Caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adherence to cholinesterase inhibitors is important in order to maximise treatment efficacy. This study aimed to investigate patient and caregiver factors associated with adherence to and satisfaction with transdermal rivastigmine treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial data were collected from 127 patients and their caregivers during the first follow-up visit after prescription. At the second follow-up, data were collected on 110 of the dyads. Adherence to and satisfaction with the treatment were assessed using the Medication Adherence Report Scale and an adapted version of the Alzheimer's Disease Caregiver Preference Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  66.2% of the caregivers reported being adherent to, and 77.0% were satisfied with, the patch at the second follow-up. Factors predicting higher adherence at the second follow-up were caregivers' greater frequency of contact with patients, greater satisfaction with the information received about the patch, better tolerability of the patch and living at home with their caregivers. Greater concerns of the caregivers about the patch and the patients' belief in 'other' causes of their Alzheimer's disease predicted a lower adherence at the second follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessing and addressing caregivers' concerns about transdermal rivastigmine, improving doctor-patient/caregiver communication to increase caregiver satisfaction with information about the patch as well as providing education and support around patients' beliefs and tolerability of the patch could improve adherence to transdermal rivastigmine.
authors.affiliation: University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riepe
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinman
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osae-Larbi
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mulick Cassidy
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D000068836:Rivastigmine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D057968:Transdermal Patch
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D000068836:Rivastigmine