Transplantation and Adherence: Evaluating Tacrolimus Usage in Pediatric Patients With Cancer.

Transplantation and Adherence: Evaluating Tacrolimus Usage in Pediatric Patients With Cancer.
Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2020 Oct 01;24(5):E57-E64
Authors: Skeens MA, Dietrich MS, Ryan-Wenger N, Gilmer MJ, Mulvaney SA, Foster Akard T
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Researchers have estimated that about 50% of pediatric patients with chronic illness adhere to tacrolimus therapy, a medication responsible for preventing critical side effects in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe patient adherence to tacrolimus by reviewing documentation from the electronic health record and therapeutic drug levels.
METHODS: This retrospective descriptive study examined 357 clinic visits by 57 patients undergoing HSCT. Direct (tacrolimus levels) and indirect (subjective reporting) measures were evaluated.
FINDINGS: The authors found that, in 51% of visits, adherence was not documented. The overall nontherapeutic drug level rate was 60%. Because of the small sample size, nonadherence did not statistically correlate with nontherapeutic levels. The findings highlight the need for adherence awareness, assessment, and documentation in clinical practice.

PMID: 32945801 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing - September 21, 2020 Category: Nursing Authors: Skeens MA, Dietrich MS, Ryan-Wenger N, Gilmer MJ, Mulvaney SA, Foster Akard T Tags: Clin J Oncol Nurs Source Type: research