Objective: There is strong evidence that many patients with chronic diseases have difficulties to adhere to the medical regimens. As to transplantation, nonadherence to the prescribed medical regimen has repeatedly been found to predict morbidity and mortality, both in adults and in children. Many instruments are available in order to assess nonadherence to immunosuppressive medication, whereas only few are available on behavioural components. Aim of the study was to present the Adherence Schedule in Transplantation (ASiT, in its three versions: ASiT-A, Adults; ASiT-PA, Proxy Adult and ASiT-PC, Proxy Child) that evaluates the Cognitive Relational Antecedents of adherence to treatment and the Self-efficacy in disease management in patients before and after transplantation.
Method: (1) Review and construct analysis of the already existing adherence Schedules, on the basis of literature review and clinical experience; (2) Construction of the ASiT in its three versions from an adaptation of the already existing adherence Schedules; (3) Administration of the ASiT to pre and post transplant recipients followed by a semi-structured interview in order to discuss with the patients pros and cons; (4) ASiT correction on the basis of patients' comments; (5) Translation in English by a bilingual English mother tongue.
Results: On the whole 56 Schedules were administered to pre and post transplant (liver, heart, lung and kidney) recipients and their proxy and resulted to have good construct validity, were easily administered and were well accepted by patients.
Conclusions: As to research the ASiT could cover a wide range of nonadherence sources. Within a clinical context our Schedule could be a not time consuming tool useful in favouring the communication about adherence and able to enhance patients' personal limits and resources.