Social support and immunosuppressant therapy adherence among adult renal transplant recipients

Chisholm‐Burns MA, Spivey CA, Wilks SE. Social support and immunosuppressant therapy adherence among adult renal transplant recipients. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 312–320. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. : Background: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between social support and immunosuppressant therapy adherence among adult renal transplant recipients. Methods: A cross‐sectional, survey design was employed. Mailed questionnaires were used to collect data from 81 recipients, and included the Immunosuppressant Therapy Adherence Scale© (ITAS©) and Modified Social Support Survey (MSSS‐5). The correlation between ITAS© and MSSS‐5 summary scores was assessed using the correlation coefficient (r). Analyses of the following relationships were conducted using correlation coefficients: (i) ITAS© summary score and individual items of the MSSS‐5; and (ii) MSSS‐5 summary score and individual items of the ITAS©. A hierarchical regression was conducted. Results: The response rate was 74%. The relationship between social support and adherence was significant (r = 0.214, p