Attitudes to Medication after Kidney Transplantation and Their Association with Medication Adherence and Graft Survival: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Table 1

Statements and factor scores.

Statements	Posttransplant attitudes
	Factor 1	Factor 2	Factor 3
(1) I would rather not tell others that I have a transplant	−2	−2	−3
(2) If you forget your medication now and then, it is not a problem	−1	−3**	−1
(3) It is more important to enjoy life than to be compliant	0**	−2*	−1*
(4) If I do something that is not so healthy, I tend to feel guilty	−1**	0	0
(5) I do not want my life to revolve around my disease	+1*	+2*	+3**
(6) I do not like to take medication when others are around	−1**	−2**	0**
(7) I have a healthy lifestyle	0	0	0
(8) I am worried that my kidney will be rejected	0*	+3**	0*
(9) I am concerned about my future	−3**	0**	−1**
(10) I am scared I will have to go on dialysis (again)	−1**	+2**	−3**
(11) My appearance is not very important to me	0**	−1**	−2**
(12) I struggle with the fact that my medication makes me fatter	−1**	0**	+1**
(13) I often feel gloomy and depressed	−3**	−1**	−1**
(14) I have side effects from my medication	−1**	0**	+2**
(15) I can manage my own medication and appointments	+1**	+1**	+3**
(16) My loved ones interfere too much with my health	−1	−1	−1*
(17) I receive enough support from friends and/or family	+2	+1**	+2
(18) I would like to meet other kidney transplant patients	0	−1	0**
(19) I appreciate it when others remind me to take my medication	0	0**	0
(20) I am extra careful with this kidney because it is from a loved one	+2**	+2**	−1**
(21) I do not mind taking multiple medications a day	+1**	0	0
(22) When I sleep in, I just take my medication later	0**	−1**	−2**
(23) I have problems swallowing larger pills	−2	−1	−1
(24) I sometimes forget my medication	−2	−3*	−2
(25) I know what my medications do	+1	0	+1
(26) I have a regular daily routine	0	0	0*
(27) A pillbox is a handy aid	+2	0**	+1
(28) I want the medication to stay the same if I feel good	0	−1**	0
(29) I take my immunosuppressive drugs exactly every twelve hours	+3**	+1	+1
(30) I find it reassuring to have my medication with me when I am away from home	0	+1	+1
(31) If I am not sure whether I have already taken my pill, I just take it again	−2	−2	−2
(32) The doctors know what is best for me	+1**	+1	0
(33) If I do not comply with the regime; it is ok for healthcare professionals to confront me with the consequences	+2	+2	+1*
(34) I find it reassuring that they check my kidney functioning regularly at the outpatient clinic	+3*	+3	+2
(35) I like it when the doctor gives me a say in the treatment	+1*	+1*	+2*
(36) I am honest with the doctor about my medication intake	+1	+1**	+1
(37) If I take a wrong dose of medication, I let my doctor know	0	0	0

Note: *P < 0.05;**P < 0.01. A “−3” score indicates that a typical kidney transplant patient with that posttransplant attitude would disagree most with that statement and a “+3” score that (s)he would agree most.