Culturally Responsive Interventions to Enhance Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence in Older African American Kidney Transplant Recipients

Abstract

Context Immunosuppressive medication nonadherence is variable among older kidney transplant recipients and is a problem in African American recipients despite the severe consequences of this behavior. Many factors place older African American recipients at risk for medication nonadherence. Objective To provide an overview of interventions to enhance immunosuppressive medication adherence in older African American kidney transplant recipients using a culturally responsive model. Culturally sensitive, innovative, and transformation interventions are discussed. Situations when each intervention would be most and least appropriate are described. Conclusion Moving culturally appropriate interventions forward into practice and testing their effectiveness in improving adherence outcomes in vulnerable, older African American kidney transplant recipients is a worthy practice and research goal for transplant nursing.