Hypertension Adherence
Research Objectives:
This trial will evaluate the effect of communications technology, providing real-time information to patients, on adherence to medication. The aims of the trial are to increase drug adherence, to create and use a novel and automated feedback loop and to demonstrate patient satisfaction with this service.
Drivers:
Of the 65 million Americans with hypertension, almost 70% do not have adequate blood pressure control. A recent report by the World Health Organization stated that 50% of patients with chronic disease do not take the medication as prescribed. Poor adherence has a significant negative economic impact and leads to increasingly poor health outcomes for patients.
Program Overview:
This study uses consumer-grade technology to provide patients with feedback which we hypothesize will positively impact their adherence behavior. The study uses a “smart” pillbox that will send SMS messages to a central server housing the individual patient’s data. The data repository then signals back to the home device, in this case a simple globe, which gives the patient relevant feedback regarding whether medication has or has not been taken. Our team will examine the effect of unobtrusive and personalized reminders on adherence rates.
In addition to assessing whether or not the automated feedback system is technically feasible, this study will provide adherence data for the local hypertensive population, and is the first layer of a strategy to develop effective behavioral strategies to improve adherence.
This randomized controlled trial began in 2006 and has recruited 70 patients.
