Beliefs of Immunosuppressive Medication Among Chinese Renal Transplant Recipients, as Assessed in a Cross-Sectional Study With the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale

Background. Adherence to immunosuppressive medication (IM) after renal transplantation is crucial to survival of patient and graft outcomes; whether beliefs about IM adherence and other sociodemographic factors affect IM adherence is debatable. Objective. This study aimed to examine the beliefs on IM and IM adherence in Chinese renal transplant recipients. Methods. Across-sectional survey was conducted. Self-developed IM beliefs questionnaire guided by health belief model was used to measure IM beliefs. The Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale was used to assess drug adherence. Results. The nonadherence rate to IM in 208 renal transplant recipients during outpatient follow-up was 44.2%. There were statistically significant associations between adherence and the marital status (P < .001). Perceived seriousness of not taking IM (P < .001) and perceived barriers of taking IM (P < .001) were significantly associated with IM adherence. After controlling other factors, married marital status, high levels of perceived seriousness of not taking IM, and lower levels of perceived barriers of taking IM (P = .007) were significantly associated with IM adherence. Conclusion. Marital status and IM beliefs are closely association with IM adherence in Chinese renal transplant recipients.