Researchers have successfully validated the Spanish version of the KATITA-25 questionnaire, a tool that assesses a kidney transplant candidate’s predisposition to non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication. This is a significant development, as medication non-adherence is a major challenge in kidney transplantation, potentially leading to graft failure. The availability of the Spanish version of KATITA-25 fills an important gap, providing healthcare providers in Spanish-speaking regions with a validated instrument to identify patients at risk of non-adherence before the transplant procedure. This can lead to targeted interventions to improve adherence and optimize transplant outcomes. Kidney transplantation is a life-changing procedure for many, and tools like KATITA-25 can make a real difference in ensuring the long-term success of these transplants.
Assessing Adherence Propensity Before Transplant
Non-adherence to immunosuppressive medication is a major challenge in kidney transplantation, with up to one-third of recipients failing to properly take their prescribed medications. This can have devastating consequences, including compromised graft function and even graft loss. Identifying patients at risk of non-adherence before the transplant procedure is crucial, as it allows healthcare providers to implement targeted interventions to improve medication adherence and increase the chances of a successful transplant.
Validating the Spanish Version of KATITA-25
The KATITA-25 (Kidney AlloTransplant Immunosuppressive Therapy Adherence) questionnaire is a tool developed in Brazil to assess a patient’s predisposition to non-adherence to immunosuppressive medications, even before the transplant procedure. This innovative approach sets KATITA-25 apart from traditional adherence assessment tools that focus on past instances of non-compliance.
In this latest study, researchers sought to validate the Spanish version of the KATITA-25 questionnaire, ensuring its reliability and construct validity in a diverse population of kidney transplant candidates in Spain. The rigorous translation and adaptation process followed established guidelines, guaranteeing linguistic and conceptual equivalence with the original Portuguese version.
Robust Reliability and Validity
The results of the validation study were highly encouraging. The Spanish version of KATITA-25 demonstrated good internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.83. The test-retest reliability, assessed through the intraclass correlation coefficient, was also good, indicating the questionnaire’s stability over time.
Importantly, the researchers also confirmed the construct validity of the Spanish KATITA-25 through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. These analyses validated the scale’s multidimensional structure, aligning with the original version’s three key factors: unintentional non-adherence, skepticism regarding medication effectiveness, and concerns about medication safety.
Filling a Gap in Spanish-Speaking Populations
The availability of the validated Spanish version of KATITA-25 is a significant development, as it fills a crucial gap in clinical assessment tools for kidney transplant candidates in Spanish-speaking regions. Prior to this, there was a notable lack of questionnaires specifically designed to evaluate medication adherence propensity in this patient population.
Improving Transplant Outcomes
By identifying patients at risk of non-adherence before the transplant procedure, healthcare providers can implement targeted interventions to address the underlying psychological and behavioral factors that contribute to non-adherence. This proactive approach has the potential to optimize medication adherence, leading to improved graft function, reduced risk of rejection, and ultimately, better long-term transplant outcomes.
The cross-cultural validation of the Spanish KATITA-25 questionnaire is a valuable contribution to the field of transplantation medicine. This tool can empower Spanish-speaking healthcare providers to better assess and support kidney transplant candidates, ultimately enhancing the overall success of kidney transplantation.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Luana Cristina Lins de Medeiros Oliveira, Guillermo Pedreira-Robles, María José Pérez-Sáez, Marta Crespo, Anna Bach-Pascual, Sandra Rubio-Paez, Tania Curado-Soto, Alicia Rovira-Algara, Edoardo Melilli, Javier Jerez-Roig, Ester Oriol-Vila, Cristina Quintana Reyes, Maribel Diaz Jurado, Rand Randall Martins, Francisca Sueli Monte Moreira, Antonio Gouveia Oliveira.
For More Related Articles Click Here
