A review of compliance studies in kidney transplanted adolescents.

Abstract

Strong evidence exists that compliance with the treatment regimen is a major problem for many transplant patients. Noncompliance with the treatment regimen is particularly evident among kidney-transplanted adolescents. Research has not examined the adolescents' experience of living with a kidney transplant. Provides a review of the literature seeking to explain the causes of noncompliance in the population group. Although the studies referred to here provide insights into the situation, many lack reliability and validity because of methodological limitations. They also point to a gap in understanding the condition from the point of view of the adolescent. A more useful approach, therefore, is to use a qualitative research methodology. Such an approach has been shown to be useful in a study of diabetic adolescents, and offers promise for the greater understanding of kidney-transplanted adolescents and the impact the medical regimen has on them. With improved understanding comes the ability of health practitioners to better meet their needs in terms of improving the quality of their post-operative lives.