Objective: Non-adherence to immunosuppressive treatment can cause graft rejection in kidney transplantation patients. The reasons for non-adherence have been shown to be side-effects of the drugs, compliance fear, and lack of family support. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of family support on drug adherence.

Material and Method: This study was conducted on 98 patients followed up in the polyclinic of a public hospital following kidney transplantation. The data were obtained from a patient information form, the Perception of Family Support Scale (PSS-Fa), the Immunosuppressive Treatment Adherence Scale (ITAS), and the tacrolimus blood plasma level of the patients.

Results: In patients aged ≤40 years, the PSS-Fa was determined to be high (p <0.05), and family support was determined to have no effect on time since transplantation, donor type and rejection attack (p >0.05). The mean ITAS points were 11.03±0.90 and the tacrolimus blood plasma level mean standard deviation was <2.47, indicating high drug adherence. A positive correlation was determined between age and ITAS points (p <0.05). No correlation was determined between the tacrolimus blood plasma level standard deviation mean value and the ITAS and PSS-Fa mean points (p >0.05).

Conclusion: No relationship was determined between family support and drug adherence. Further studies can be recommended to evaluate groups including different transplantation types to investigate the effect of family support on drug adherence.