Transplant Adherence Program educates kidney recipients about adherence

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Transplant Adherence Program educates kidney recipients about adherence

August 26, 2010 @ 03:30PM

Markham, Ontario - A free, interactive initiative called the Transplant Adherence Program (www.transplantadherence.ca), is helping kidney transplant recipients adapt to their new organ and the regimen of medications and clinic follow-ups they will need to stick to for life. The program provides a variety of tools such as newsletters, DVD, information booklets, and an alarm pill box – which promote the positive behavior of “following doctor’s orders”. All program information and resources are downloadable on the program’s website www.transplantadherence.ca.

Patient adherence, or sticking to a prescribed medical plan after a kidney transplant, has been a major concern for medical professionals. It is estimated that 50% of Canadians on prescription drugs are non-adherent to their medications. For kidney transplant recipients, non-adherence to their anti-rejection medications can be dangerous and is one of the leading causes of organ rejection after a transplant.

“Kidney transplant specialists constantly stress to their patients the importance of taking anti-rejection medication in the prescribed doses, every day at the same time for the rest of their life; that kidney recipients must recognize and act on the early signs of rejection and they must come to all of their clinic appointments and get their blood work done,” explained Dr. Jeffrey Schiff, nephrologist at the Toronto General Hospital and one of two medical experts consulted in the development of the Transplant Adherence Program.

“I wish that this program was around when I could have used it 10 years ago,” said Dave Smith, a kidney transplant recipient, program member and president of the Canadian Transplant Association. “The Transplant Adherence Program helps break down the post-transplant process and offers the kind of information which is indispensable to recipients as they start this new chapter in their lives and look to maintain their newfound health.”

http://smr.newswire.ca/en/astellas-pharma-canada-inc/transplant-adherence-program-educates-kidney-recipients