Describing barriers and facilitators for medication adherence and self-management among kidney transplant recipients using the information-motivation-behavioral skills model

Background: We aimed to develop an adapted information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model to describe barriers and facilitators for adherence and self-management among kidney transplant recipients. Methods: We conducted a review of literature about kidney transplant recipients' knowledge, perceptions, and experiences and organized our results using the IMB framework. We then conducted interviews with transplant recipients and transplant providers to supplement our literature search. Results: Our proposed adaption of the IMB model describes informational, motivational, and behavioral skills barriers and facilitators for medication adherence and self-management among kidney transplant recipients. Moderating factors influence not only behavioral skills, but also recipients' understanding of information and motivation to adhere and practice self-management. Conclusion: By using the IMB model to organize current research and interviews with recipients and providers, we developed an adapted model for medication adherence and self-management. Results are promising to impact future educational and behavioral interventions for kidney transplant recipients.