Improving Medication Adherence and Outcomes in Transplant Recipients: The Impact of Medication Nonadherence

Sponsored by CME Outfitters, LLC

Supported by an educational grant from Astellas Scientific and Medical Affairs, Inc.

Specialty: Psychiatric Medicine

Release date: June 28, 2013

Valid through: June 28, 2014

Target Audience:

Physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists who are interested in or care for liver and kidney transplant patients.

Program Overview:

Patients’ adherence to prescribed medication regimens is a challenge in many patients who have a chronic illness and the need for ongoing treatment. Fewer than half of individuals who are chronically ill actually adhere to prescribed medication regimens. Continuity of recommended post-surgical care is especially important in transplantation.⁽¹⁾ Lack of adherence to immunosuppressive medication increases the transplant recipients’ likelihood of graft rejection or failure. Non-adherence can also cause increased health complications, health care costs, and deaths.⁽²⁾ Adherence to immunosuppressive medication after transplantation is important to maximize good clinical benefits and outcomes; however, adherence remains suboptimal and not well-understood. Clinicians need to proactively partner with patients to educate each other and work together toward patient health and the success of a transplant.

Credit Types

0.75 AMA PRA Category 1™ Credit Hours

0.75 Pharmacy Education Contact Hours (0.075 CEUs)

All other healthcare professionals completing this course will be issued a statement of participation.

Participants may also be interested in the related course Improving Medication Adherence & Outcomes in Transplant Recipients: Strategies to Improve Medication Adherence