Factors impacting the medication “Adherence Landscape” for transplant patients

Abstract Background Medication non‐adherence contributes to post‐transplant graft rejection and failure; however, limited knowledge about the reasons for non‐adherence hinders the development of interventions to improve adherence. We conducted focus groups with solid organ transplant recipients regarding overlooked challenges in the process of transplant medication self‐management and examined their adherence strategies and perceptions towards the post‐transplant medication regimen. Methods We conducted four focus groups with n = 31 total adult transplant recipients. Participants had received kidney, liver, or combined liver/kidney transplant at Johns Hopkins Hospital between 2014 and 2019. Focus groups were audio‐recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed inductively, using the constant comparative method. Results Responses generally fell into two major categories: (1) barriers to adherence and (2) “adherence landscape”. We define the former as factors directly labeled as barriers to adherence by participants and the latter as factors that heavily influence the post‐transplant medication self‐management process. Conclusions We propose a shift in the way healthcare providers and researchers, address the question of medication non‐adherence. Rather than asking why patients are non‐adherent, we suggest that constructing and understanding patients’ “adherence landscape” will provide an optimal way to align the goals of patients and providers and boost health outcomes.