Intervention Development to Promote Medical Adherence After Stem Cell Transplant

Abstract

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) can be a lifesaving treatment for patients with hematologic disease. However, adherence to the post-HCT clinical regimen has many challenges that patients and their family caregivers must manage after hospital discharge. To address their needs, we developed a Dyadic Problem-Solving Therapy (DPST) intervention, then examined its feasibility and acceptability to patients and their family caregivers. Twelve patient–family caregiver dyads participated. Four dyads received DPST in person, four received it via online video conferencing. Another four received an enhanced usual care (EUC) intervention of the same length. Feasibility was assessed using completion rates, while acceptability was assessed using satisfaction ratings on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. DPST and EUC were both feasible (100% of dyads who started the intervention completed it) and acceptable with satisfaction ratings ranging from 3.6 to 4 for patients and 3.6–3.9 for family caregivers on a 1–4 scale for both DPST groups and ranging from 3.3 to 3.8 for EUC patients and 3.5–4 for EUC family caregivers. There were no evident differences by mode of intervention delivery. DPST, both in person and via video, appears feasible and acceptable for training patient–family caregiver dyads to manage challenges to adherence to the post-HCT regimen.