This article presents a comprehensive and multistage approach to the development of the user experience (UX) for an mHealth application targeting older adult patients with chronic diseases, specifically chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The study adopts a mixed methods approach, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components. The underlying hypothesis posits that baseline medicine adherence knowledge (measured by the MARS questionnaire), beliefs about medicines (measured by the BMQ questionnaire), and level of user experience (measured by the SUS and UEQ questionnaires) act as predictors of adherence change after a period of usage of the mHealth application. However, contrary to our expectations, the results did not demonstrate the anticipated relationship between the variables examined. Nevertheless, the qualitative component of the research revealed that patients, in general, expressed satisfaction with the application. It is important to note that the pilot testing phase revealed a notable prevalence of technical issues, which may have influenced participants' perception of the overall UX. These findings contribute to the understanding of UX development in the context of mHealth applications for older adults with chronic diseases and emphasise the importance of addressing technical challenges to enhance user satisfaction and engagement.

• Klíčová slova
• UX, eHealth, mHealth application, medication adherence,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: The main aim was to evaluate the changes in beliefs about immunosuppressants over a 3-year period in patients after kidney transplantation. The second aim was to investigate the relationship between beliefs, medication adherence, and selected clinical outcomes such as graft functioning. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This observational follow-up study was conducted in the outpatient post-transplant clinic at the University Hospital Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic. Adult patients, at least 4 weeks after kidney transplantation, were invited for the structured interview, which was followed by a self-administered questionnaire survey during their regularly scheduled visits at the clinic. Appropriate paired tests were used to compare two measurements of beliefs about immunosuppressants by BMQ-CZ© in 2016 (baseline) and in 2019 (follow-up). Self-reported adherence was measured by two validated tools (MARS-CZ© and BAASIS©) capturing implementation and discontinuation phases. A generalized linear model was used to investigate the relation between beliefs and the consecutive estimated glomerular filtration rate. RESULTS: The study involved 134 patients. Over time, their perceived treatment necessity beliefs of immunosuppressants decreased, while their treatment-related concerns increased. Overall self-reported non-adherence (ie, taking, dosing and discontinuation of immunosuppressants) was reported by 12% of the patients in both observation periods. In the follow-up period, timing non-adherence was reported by 52 (38.8%) patients. Higher baseline treatment concerns were associated with poor adherence whereas higher baseline treatment necessity beliefs corresponded with better kidney functioning, even after adjusting for age. CONCLUSION: Higher treatment necessity beliefs corresponded with better kidney functioning, whereas higher treatment concerns were related to non-adherence to immunosuppressants at the beginning of the observed period. Still, most patients accepted their medicines that do not come without risk. Nevertheless, decreasing treatment necessity beliefs on one hand, and increasing treatment concerns on the other, should be considered in clinical practice.

• Klíčová slova
• immunosuppressants, kidney transplantation, medication adherence, treatment concerns, treatment necessity beliefs,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: Kidney transplant (KTx) recipients should strictly adhere to their lifelong complex therapeutic regimen, and any barriers to medication adherence can weaken correct patient behavior. This study aimed to determine the adherence to immunosuppressive therapy (IS) in KTx adult outpatients in the Czech Republic, and attempted to gain a greater insight into their attitudes toward IS and self-management tasks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pharmacist-led structured interviews were conducted to assess self-reported adherence to IS using the Czech version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale, in the context of attitudes toward IS in terms of necessity and concern scale of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire. A specific questionnaire was developed to target IS self-management tasks. Medication records were also reviewed for IS serum levels, reflecting direct adherence measurement. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate adherence and self-management variables, and were analyzed by univariate and multivariate correlations, including the decision-tree method. RESULTS: The interview was completed by 211 (male 123; mean age 55.0±12.4 years, mean time 6.6±5.9 years after KTx) of the total of 235 patients. Full adherence to IS was reported by 173 (82.0%) patients. Most of them had IS serum levels within the therapeutic range, however, cyclosporine was associated with the highest variability (P<0.001). Non-adherence and concerns increased over time after KTx (P<0.05). Despite the more common unintentional non-adherence (P<0.001), relatively high concerns signified the risk of not taking IS as prescribed. Concerns also correlated with the perception of impaired health status (P<0.01), as well as the occurrence of IS-related adverse effects (P<0.001). The patients' awareness of their therapy was insufficient, and main gaps in self-management comprised inadequate sun protection, incorrect administration of IS, and unfamiliarity with the IS name, or their indications. CONCLUSION: Although self-reported adherence to IS therapy was satisfactory, the comprehensive evaluation enabled the detection of greater concerns about IS, as well as underestimated self-management tasks that posttransplant interventions should target in the future.

• Klíčová slova
• beliefs about medicines, immunosuppression, kidney transplantation, medication adherence, self-management,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

PURPOSE: All current recommendations include calcium and vitamin D (Ca-D) as an integrated part of osteoporosis treatment. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze compliance with a fixed combination of Ca-D in women persistent with the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational study was carried out in three osteocenters in the Czech Republic. Women with osteoporosis ≥55 years of age concurrently treated with oral ibandronate were eligible. Compliance was evaluated in a period of 3 months by Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), tablet count, and self-report. Nonpersistence was defined as a MEMS-based gap in the use of Ca-D to be 30 days or more. RESULTS: A total of 73 patients were monitored, of which 49 patients were analyzed (target population). Based on MEMS, mean overall compliance was 71%; good compliance (≥80%) was observed in 59% of the patients. As many as 71% of the patients took drug holidays (≥3 consecutive days without intake); overall compliance of these patients was 59% and was slightly lower on Fridays and weekends. Patients without drug holidays were fully compliant (did not omit individual doses). Compliance differed according to daily time at which the patients mostly used the Ca-D. Afternoon/evening takers showed a mean overall compliance of 82% while morning/night takers only 51% (P=0.049). Based on MEMS, tablet count, and self-report, compliance ≥75% was observed in 59%, 100%, and 87% of the patients, respectively. Outcomes obtained by the three methods were not associated with each other. Undesirable concurrent ingestion of Ca-D and ibandronate was present only twice. CONCLUSION: Despite almost perfect self-reported and tablet count-based compliance, MEMS-based compliance was relatively poor. Consecutive supplementation-free days were common; more than two-thirds of the patients took at least one drug holiday. This pilot study showed drug holiday to be the most important type of noncompliance with Ca-D in those who are persistent with the treatment.

• Klíčová slova
• Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS), calcium supplementation, drug holidays, medication adherence, osteoporosis, patient compliance, self-report,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH