Determining the Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence After Kidney Transplantation: A Descriptive Correlational Study.

BACKGROUND

What is known about how the level of social support, which is among the factors affecting medication adherence, affects medication adherence is limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the relationship between perceived social support and immunosuppressive medication adherence among kidney recipients.

DESIGN

This study was conducted using a descriptive correlational research method.

PARTICIPANTS

The study conducted research with 168 kidney transplant recipients who agreed to participate between April and June 2021. Participants completed the Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence Scale (IMAS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS).

MEASUREMENTS AND

RESULTS

Participants had a mean IMAS and MSPSS score of 50.24 ± 3.71 and 57.21 ± 13.96, respectively. Participants' MSPSS total (r = 0.209, p = 0.006) and 'family' (r = 0.248, p = 0.001) and 'friends' (r = 0.226, p = 0.003) subscale scores were weakly and positively correlated with their IMAS total score.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the effect of perceived social support on immunosuppressive medication adherence is important for designing future interventions to increase immunosuppressive medication adherence.