This post was posted by the original Connected Health team. We have republished it here for reference only.
A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that 50% of patients with chronic disease do not take their medication as prescribed. Poor medication adherence leads to increasingly poor health outcomes for patients and has a significant negative economic impact on healthcare resources. Readily-available communications technology can provide real-time information and feedback to patients, to support improved medication adherence.
Sunscreen Adherence
The aim of this trial is to assess the effect of text-message reminders delivered via cell phone on adherence to sunscreen application.
Wireless Medication Adherence
This study found that patients with high blood pressure, who received reminders to take their medication via a wireless electronic pill bottle, were more adherent to their medication plan than the control group.
Stan Grzybek
Stan says that the orb that serves to remind him to take his blood pressure medication is also working to get his family members more involved and aware of his medical care.
Medication nonadherence: an unrecognized cardiovascular risk factor
Nonadherence with prescribed drug regimens is a pervasive medical problem. Multiple variables affecting physicians and patients contribute to nonadherence, which negatively affects treatment outcomes. In patients with hypertension, medication nonadherence is a significant, often unrecognized, risk factor that contributes to poor blood pressure control.September 2007 | Munger MA, Van Tassell BW, LaFleur J
Hypertension Intervention Nurse Telemedicine Study (HINTS): testing a multifactorial tailored behavioral/educational and a medication management intervention for blood pressure control
The authors describe a study that tests 3 different interventions in a randomized controlled trial using home BP telemedicine monitoring.June 2007 | Bosworth HB, Olsen MK, McCant F, Harrelson M, Gentry P, Rose C, Goldstein MK, Hoffman BB, Powers B, Oddone EZ
Telemonitoring of medication adherence in patients with schizophrenia
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of telemonitoring of medication adherence on symptomatology and service use in patients with schizophrenia.December 2005 | Frangou S, Sachpazidis I, Stassinakis A, Sakas G
Interventions for enhancing medication adherence (Review)
The authors updated a review summarizing the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions to help patients follow prescriptions for medications for medical problems, including mental disorders but not addictions.2005 | Haynes RB, Yao X, Degani A, Kripalani S, Garg A, McDonald HP
Enhancing Patient Adherence
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) convened a roundtable discussion on patient adherence programs.October 2004 | American Pharmacists Association
Adherence To Long-Term Therapies: Evidence for Action
This report is part of the work of the Adherence to Long-term Therapies Project, a global initiative launched in 2001 by the Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Cluster of the World Health Organization.July 2003 | World Health Organization