Exploring Immunosuppressant Medication Adherence in Kidney Transplant Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To describe the beliefs, understanding and experience of immunosuppressant medication adherence in our current transplant patient population through a series of patient focus groups

Detailed Description
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The investigators want to understand more about why some of our kidney transplant patients find it difficult to take their anti-rejection medicines as intended. It is hoped that if the investigators can improve their understanding of why some patients struggle with their anti-rejection medicines, the investigators will be able to find better ways to help our transplant patients and so fewer patients may develop problems with their transplant. This study will collect qualitative data from a series of focus groups with kidney transplant recipients to explore their beliefs, understanding and experience of anti-rejection medication adherence. The focus groups will also explore the support that participants have received to help them with their medication adherence and what support they feel should be available to them and to others in the future to optimise anti-rejection medication adherence in transplant patients. Five focus groups will be undertaken. Each focus group will include six patients and will last for approximately 1.5 hours. All participants will be kidney transplant recipients transplanted and followed up at Imperial College Renal and Transplant Centre.

Official Title
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Exploring Immunosuppressant Medication Adherence in Kidney Transplant Patients

Conditions
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Adherence, Medication, Transplantation, Kidney

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Focus group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Kidney transplant recipients transplanted and under the active follow up of ICRTC. Speak and understand English 18 years and above Exclusion Criteria: Unable to speak and understand English Below 18 years

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 80 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Focus group<br>Focus group to explore immunosuppressant medication adherence in kidney transplant patients | Behavioral: Focus group<br>* Kidneys transplant patients will discuss their attitudes and beliefs towards immunosuppressant medication adherence<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To describe the beliefs, understanding and experience of immunosuppressant medication adherence in our current kidney transplant patient population assess by group discussions | Through a series of focus groups, the investigators will qualitatively explore kidney transplant patients' understanding of the terms immunosuppressant medication adherence and nonadherence. What importance do patients attach to adherence. Do patients understand that nonadherence may effect the outcome of the transplant. The focus groups will identify the common practical and perceptual barriers to adherence identified by transplant patients and the interventions kidney transplant patients have used to try and improve their adherence. The focus groups will which interventions patients have found effective and which interventions patients have not found to be effective to improve their adherence. They will also identify support patients have had with adherence since their transplant, the support patients feel could have helped them to better adhere to their medicines up to now and the support our patients feel would help them to adhere better to their medicines in the future | 9 months |